Compare towns
Jefferson vs Bethlehem vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Jefferson | Bethlehem | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
2,537 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Jefferson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Jefferson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 29% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Jefferson 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 | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.