Compare towns
Nelson vs Bethlehem vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most renters (24.7% rent).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Nelson | Bethlehem | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Bethlehem 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 | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None 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.