Compare towns
Orford vs Newfields vs Lincoln 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
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Lincoln has the most renters (28% rent).
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 | Newfields | Lincoln | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,295Lowest |
2,023 |
1,461 |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 7% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
$85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
| Newfields and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Newfields 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Newfields School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 7.4Lowest |
8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.