Compare towns
Whitefield vs Alstead vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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.
| Measure | Whitefield | Alstead | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,516 |
1,551Lowest |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Alstead and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 120 in NH | — | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 8.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.