What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Nelson
People
Population	2,537Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Bethlehem and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9 NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1 NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH
	Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH	$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH
	Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH	$5,575Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bethlehem and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	24 minHighest 9% below NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Nelson School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.