What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Bethlehem
People
Population	16,151Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
	Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
	Exeter and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 32% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Exeter and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	59 photos →	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.