Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Salisbury vs Sunapee
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%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Salisbury | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
9,281Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Salisbury 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% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Sunapee 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. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Salisbury 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. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Salisbury 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. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Triton | 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 |
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.