Compare towns
Peterborough vs Dedham 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
Peterborough has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Peterborough | Dedham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,539 |
25,237Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±9.2Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,833±$15k 6% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,300±$57k 14% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,515±$290 7% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,422 138% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Dedham 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.