Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Whitefield vs Orford
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%).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Whitefield | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
2,516 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH |
48.9±3.3Lowest 13% 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%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield 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% |
28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Orford 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 14% below NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
| Orford 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±$22kHighest 28% below NH |
$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH |
| Orford and Bethlehem 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 |
$4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,836Highest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | #86 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | White Mountains Regional High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
7.9Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.