Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Norwich vs Thetford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemNorwichThetford
People
Population
2,537Lowest
3,640Highest
2,813
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5Highest
30% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
43.6±6.2
12% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich 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
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bethlehem and Thetford 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
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
68%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Thetford and Norwich 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
5% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$88,045±$16k
9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$329,500±$96k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
Norwich and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Lowest
74% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,948
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thetford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #40 of 70 in VT
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Norwich School District Thetford School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.