Compare towns

Fairlee vs Bethlehem vs Rumney vs Newfane

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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rumney has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Newfane has the most homeowners (87.2%).

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.

MeasureFairleeBethlehemRumneyNewfane
People
Population
1,066Lowest
2,537Highest
1,458
1,456
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
44.5±2.3Lowest
14% above U.S.
54.4±3.9
40% above U.S.
Fairlee and Newfane 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%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Rumney and Bethlehem 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%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Rumney 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.
$79,444±$21k
about the U.S. average
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
$309,800±$37kHighest
7% below U.S.
$284,200±$49k
15% below U.S.
Rumney 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±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,064±$100Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
Newfane and Bethlehem 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.
$4,716Lowest
51% above U.S.
$5,174
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.1%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Newfane 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 Rumney School District West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town None in town Profile Senior High School None in town 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.