What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	2,537Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe 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%	25.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Stowe 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%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stowe and Bethlehem 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.	$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Stowe 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.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
	Stowe 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.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Stowe 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%	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Stowe 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	—
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	11.3Highest
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.