Compare towns
Carroll vs Lancaster vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
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.
| Measure | Carroll | Lancaster | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659Lowest |
2,230 |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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 35% below NH |
$66,765±$20k 33% below NH |
$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH |
$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH |
| 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 28% below NH |
$1,036±$221Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
| 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 50% below NH |
$4,225 37% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±18.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 19% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #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 |
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.