Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Wells vs Carroll
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%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).
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.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Wells | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
11,713Highest |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Carroll 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. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$261,500±$42kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,078±$241Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Wells and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,356 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28%±47.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.