Compare towns

Croydon vs Bethlehem vs Alton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Croydon has the youngest population (median age 43).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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.

MeasureCroydonBethlehemAlton
People
Population
798Lowest
2,537
5,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
NH: +4.6%
-1.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
43±9.1Lowest
about the NH average
50.6±8.5
17% above NH
53.7±3.2Highest
24% above NH
Alton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±6.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
13.4%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Croydon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.4%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
28.2%±5.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
25.1%±4.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bethlehem and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.8%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±3.3Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±0.9
NH: 6%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Croydon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,333±$21k
about the NH average
$85,029±$18kLowest
14% below NH
$113,715±$19kHighest
15% above NH
Alton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$317,300±$33k
21% below NH
$288,300±$22kLowest
28% below NH
$430,400±$37kHighest
7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$991±$336Lowest
34% below NH
$1,174±$81Highest
21% below NH
—
Bethlehem and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,806Lowest
43% below NH
$5,418Highest
19% below NH
$4,183
37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±75.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.3%±18.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.7%±27.7
NH: 48.2%
Bethlehem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
NH: 72.8%
75.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the NH average
20 minLowest
24% below NH
33 minHighest
24% above NH
Work from home
5.3%±4.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.1%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
Bethlehem and Alton 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 #72 of 120 in NH
School district Croydon School District Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town None in town Profile Senior High School Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Lowest
11.1Highest
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.