Compare towns

Whitefield vs Ryegate 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%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureWhitefieldRyegateBethlehem
People
Population
2,516
1,059Lowest
2,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.6Highest
32% above U.S.
41.2±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Ryegate and Bethlehem 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%
22.1%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±5.5
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whitefield and Ryegate 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
22% below U.S.
$66,484±$15k
18% below U.S.
$85,029±$18kHighest
5% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Ryegate 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.
$219,300±$32kLowest
34% below U.S.
$288,300±$22kHighest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,077±$160
24% below U.S.
$908±$236Lowest
36% 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.
$3,472Lowest
11% above U.S.
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.9%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±29.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ryegate and Whitefield 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%
14.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1949Lowest
31 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
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.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.2%±3.7
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 — #34 of 120 in NH
School district White Mountains Regional School District — Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town White Mountains Regional High School — 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

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.