What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Royalton
People
Population	2,537Lowest	2,752Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Royalton 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%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bethlehem and Royalton 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%	22.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Royalton 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±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Royalton 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%	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.