What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peterborough	Bethlehem
People
Population	6,408Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH	50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH
	Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	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+	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
	Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
	Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,655Highest 30% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 16% below NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Peterborough 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Conval Regional High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.