Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Salisbury vs Whitefield
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 the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Salisbury | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
9,281Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Whitefield and Salisbury 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield 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% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$240,400±$22kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,077±$160Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,394Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Whitefield 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest 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 | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Triton | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.