Compare towns
Fairlee vs Bethlehem vs Bridgewater vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Fairlee | Bethlehem | Bridgewater | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
2,537Highest |
980Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3k 13% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Dover 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.