Compare towns
Whitefield vs Exeter 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 the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Exeter | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,516Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Whitefield 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
| Exeter and Bethlehem 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter 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 | #86 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | Exeter High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.