Compare towns

Rumney vs Bethlehem vs Orford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

MeasureRumneyBethlehemOrford
People
Population
1,458
2,537Highest
1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
0%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.5±2.3Lowest
about the NH average
50.6±8.5Highest
17% above NH
48.9±3.3
13% 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
18.7%±4.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Rumney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.1%±3.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
28.2%±5.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
25.5%±4.2
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+
41.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.3
NH: 6%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
5%±2.1Highest
NH: 6%
Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,444±$21kLowest
20% below NH
$85,029±$18k
14% below NH
$92,571±$24kHighest
7% below NH
Orford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,800±$37kHighest
23% below NH
$288,300±$22k
28% below NH
$271,900±$25kLowest
32% below NH
Rumney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$100Lowest
29% below NH
$1,174±$81
21% below NH
$1,263±$686Highest
15% below NH
Orford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,716Lowest
29% below NH
$5,418
19% below NH
$5,836Highest
12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.1%±21.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.3%±18.3
NH: 48.2%
37.8%±10.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Rumney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
5.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
3 yrs older than NH
1973
6 yrs older than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
26 min
4% below NH
Work from home
14.4%±7
NH: 16.8%
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
10.8%±4.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Bethlehem and Rumney 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 Rumney School District Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town None in town Profile Senior High School Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Lowest
9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.