Compare towns
Orford vs Hampton Falls vs Thetford vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
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.
| Measure | Orford | Hampton Falls | Thetford | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,295Lowest |
2,328 |
2,813Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Hampton Falls School District | Thetford School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | — | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.