What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Bethlehem has the most homeowners (75.3%).

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	Lebanon	Bethlehem
People
Population	14,999Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
	Lebanon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 22% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 48% below NH	20 minHighest 24% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Lebanon School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.