What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Rockport	Bethlehem
People
Population	3,675Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±3.7Lowest 25% above U.S.	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rockport and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,979±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Rockport and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$469,000±$50kHighest 41% above U.S.	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$667Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Rockport and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,764Highest 85% above U.S.	$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±42.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockport and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	11 minLowest 57% below U.S.	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Rockport 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	#8 of 133 in ME	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Camden Hills Regional H S	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.