What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Nashua	Bethlehem
People
Population	91,294Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nashua and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kHighest about the NH average	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
	Nashua and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kHighest about the NH average	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Highest about the NH average	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Nashua and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashua School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.