Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Walpole vs Whitefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureBethlehemWalpoleWhitefield
People
Population
2,537
3,690Highest
2,516Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%
NH: +4.6%
-2.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
50.6±8.5
17% above NH
46.5±10.4Lowest
7% above NH
51.4±4.6Highest
19% above NH
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
NH: 18.2%
22.2%±5.2Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.3%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Walpole 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
NH: 20.1%
25.5%±5.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
28.6%±5.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
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%Highest
NH: 40.6%
32.9%
NH: 40.6%
26.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
4%±2.8
NH: 6%
5.9%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Whitefield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,029±$18kHighest
14% below NH
$82,617±$16k
17% below NH
$63,125±$12kLowest
36% below NH
Bethlehem and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22k
28% below NH
$319,800±$48kHighest
21% below NH
$240,400±$22kLowest
40% below NH
Walpole and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81Highest
21% below NH
$1,165±$150
22% below NH
$1,077±$160Lowest
28% below NH
Bethlehem and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418
19% below NH
$6,078Highest
9% below NH
$4,394Lowest
34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±21.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
47.9%±15.6
NH: 48.2%
Walpole and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
11%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.9%
NH: 72.8%
62.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
6 yrs older than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
1965Lowest
14 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
23 min
13% below NH
26 minHighest
about the NH average
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
7.2%±4.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #34 of 120 in NH #27 of 120 in NH #86 of 120 in NH
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Fall Mountain Regional School District White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School None in town White Mountains Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Highest
—
7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

NH 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.