Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sunapee vs White River Junction
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%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Sunapee | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
3,416Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below 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%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest 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% |
1.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and White River Junction 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. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% 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% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Bethlehem 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Sunapee School District | — |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.