What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Gilford	Bethlehem
People
Population	7,830Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
	Bethlehem and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Gilford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH	$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH
	Bethlehem and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,868Lowest 27% below NH	$5,418Highest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 18% below NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Gilford 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	#45 of 120 in NH	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Gilford School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Gilford High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.