Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Nelson vs Sunapee
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
648Lowest |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Nelson 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±$49k 15% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Nelson 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±$243 19% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Nelson 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Nelson School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.