What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	2,537Lowest	2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
	Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster 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%	27.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Bethlehem 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 5% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster 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%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.