Compare towns
Whitefield vs Appleton vs Bethlehem vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Appleton | Bethlehem | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,516 |
1,360Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394 41% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,350 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 8.9Highest |
8.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.