Compare towns

Orford vs Thetford vs Hampton Falls 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).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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.

MeasureOrfordThetfordHampton FallsBethlehem
People
Population
1,295Lowest
2,813Highest
2,328
2,537
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.9±3.3
26% above U.S.
43.6±6.2Lowest
12% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% 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%
15.4%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6Highest
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%
20.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
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%
68%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
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.
$88,045±$16k
9% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$85,029±$18kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,900±$25kLowest
18% below U.S.
$329,500±$96k
about the U.S. average
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,263±$686
11% below U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above 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.
$6,948
123% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,418Lowest
74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
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%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
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 Thetford School District Hampton Falls 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.