What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Sutton
People
Population	2,537Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Sutton 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%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton 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%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sutton 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.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Bethlehem 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Sutton
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.