What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Temple	Bethlehem
People
Population	1,363Lowest	2,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
	Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Temple and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kHighest 5% below NH	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
	Temple and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH	$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH
	Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 5% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Temple 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	Contoocook Valley School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	None in town	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
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.