Compare towns

Carroll vs Braintree vs Bethlehem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

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.

MeasureCarrollBraintreeBethlehem
People
Population
659Lowest
1,026
2,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.4±4.8Highest
60% above U.S.
58.4±2.4
50% above U.S.
50.6±8.5Lowest
30% above U.S.
Carroll and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bethlehem and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
39.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.2%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Carroll and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,821±$26kLowest
20% below U.S.
$79,803±$5k
about the U.S. average
$85,029±$18kHighest
5% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$261,500±$42k
21% below U.S.
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
$288,300±$22kHighest
13% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,078±$241
24% below U.S.
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,356Lowest
8% above U.S.
$3,908
25% above U.S.
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28%±47.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±29.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Braintree and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
18% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
4.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Braintree 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
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town — None in town Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.9
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.