Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Nelson vs Carroll
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (24.7% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Nelson | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
648Lowest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest 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%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Carroll and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| 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±$22k 28% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% 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±$81 21% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% 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 | $5,418 19% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5Lowest 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% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest 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 | 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.