Compare towns
Whitefield vs Mapleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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 | Mapleton | Gorham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,516 |
1,884Lowest |
2,682Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% 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. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bethlehem 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% 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% |
5%±2.9 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$22k 28% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$838±$83 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9% 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% |
79.9%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. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older 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 |
28 minHighest 5% 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% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.