What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Plaistow	Bethlehem
People
Population	7,861Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
	Bethlehem and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
	Plaistow 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±$32kHighest about the NH average	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 120 in NH	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.