Compare towns
Whitefield vs Jay vs Gorham vs Bethlehem
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%).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Gorham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,516 |
471Lowest |
2,682Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6 32% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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±$12k 22% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
— | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield 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. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 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 |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Jay 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.0Highest |
8.9 |
| 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.