Compare towns

Orford vs Warner 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).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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.

MeasureOrfordWarnerBethlehem
People
Population
1,295Lowest
2,959Highest
2,537
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
NH: +4.6%
+3.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.9±3.3
13% above NH
43.7±4Lowest
about the NH average
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%
17.3%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Bethlehem and Warner 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%
20.4%±3.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
28.2%±5.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
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%
NH: 40.6%
42.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.1
NH: 6%
5.3%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
Warner 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
$94,022±$18kHighest
5% below NH
$85,029±$18kLowest
14% below NH
Warner and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,900±$25kLowest
32% below NH
$353,100±$22kHighest
12% below NH
$288,300±$22k
28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,263±$686Highest
15% below NH
$1,219±$123
18% below NH
$1,174±$81Lowest
21% below NH
Orford and Warner 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
$7,650Highest
15% above NH
$5,418Lowest
19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±10.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.7%±21.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.3%±18.3
NH: 48.2%
Warner and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.4%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
74.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1975Highest
4 yrs older than NH
1973
6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
4% below NH
32 minHighest
19% above NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
Work from home
10.8%±4.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.6%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Bethlehem and Warner 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 Kearsarge Regional School District Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town Rivendell Academy 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

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.