Compare towns

Carroll vs Brookline 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%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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.

MeasureCarrollBrooklineBethlehem
People
Population
659
531Lowest
2,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.4±4.8Highest
60% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Lowest
16% above U.S.
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
Carroll and Bethlehem 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%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Bethlehem 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%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,821±$26kLowest
20% below U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$85,029±$18kHighest
5% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$261,500±$42kLowest
21% below U.S.
$290,700±$37kHighest
13% below U.S.
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
Brookline and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,078±$241Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,356Lowest
8% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28%±47.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline 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%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
18% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
4.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Brookline 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 — — Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school 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.