Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Putney vs Franconia
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%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
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 | Putney | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
2,622Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,292±$28kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Franconia 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 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,281±$278Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.