Compare towns
Orford vs Sugar Hill 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).
Sugar Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.9%).
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 | Sugar Hill | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
658Lowest |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+14.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH |
60.8±2.1Highest 40% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
37.2%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sugar Hill 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2%±3.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Sugar Hill 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 |
$154,091±$32kHighest 56% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$639,700±$50kHighest 59% above NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH |
$1,208±$630 19% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Orford and Sugar Hill 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 |
$7,340Highest 10% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Sugar Hill 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% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Sugar Hill 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 | — | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | — | 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 |
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.