Compare towns
Wilder vs Bethlehem vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Wilder | Bethlehem | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,537 |
1,791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.