Compare towns
Littleton vs Lancaster vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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.
| Measure | Littleton | Lancaster | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,040Highest |
3,216 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38±7.4Lowest 12% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 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+ | 18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,746±$11kLowest 43% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$85,029±$18kHighest 14% 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 | $282,900±$55k 30% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$50Lowest 37% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$1,174±$81Highest 21% 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 | $4,741 29% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±12.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Littleton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 46% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 10%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #80 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Littleton School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 8.9Highest |
| 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.