Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sunapee vs Upton
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Sunapee | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
3,416 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Bethlehem 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Upton 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. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Sunapee School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.