Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
27,793Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Whitefield 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% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$240,400±$22kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,077±$160Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,394Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitefield and Wakefield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
10.7Highest |
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.