Population 2,376 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bethlehem
Household size in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Bethlehem is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.26 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.4 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.8 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.3 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Bethlehem skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Bethlehem as they are nationally: 10.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in New Hampshire overall (8.5%).
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bethlehem
Renters in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.8% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.2% of households in Bethlehem rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. That is in line with the rest of New Hampshire. About half of owners (50.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.0% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 29.5% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 22.5% of the housing in Bethlehem, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
Bethlehem is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $754 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $888 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $738 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,155 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$402 | +$580 | +$606 |
The median renter in Bethlehem pays $1,155 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 27.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bethlehem
Bachelor's degrees in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.3% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 44.2% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +20.4 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Bethlehem than nationally: 44.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Bethlehem: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bethlehem
| Period | Bethlehem | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.7% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Bethlehem: 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bethlehem compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | 2.35 | 50.3 | 10.9% | 24.2% | 22.5% | 1971 | $1,155 | 44.2% | 96.8% | 6.7% |
| Littleton | 2.17 | 38.3 | 11.3% | 50.1% | 12.8% | 1970 | $922 | 25.8% | 87.4% | 3.1% |
| Franconia | 2.30 | 56.5 | 5.9% | 13.1% | 39.2% | 1977 | $1,186 | 53.4% | 97.3% | 2.6% |
| Sugar Hill | 2.41 | 58.8 | 2.5% | 15.0% | 41.1% | 1968 | $889 | 50.7% | 96.1% | 1.1% |
| Twin Mountain | 2.01 | 56.8 | 4.1% | 13.4% | 49.9% | 1979 | $1,205 | 46.6% | 95.7% | 3.6% |
| Whitefield | 2.16 | 48.8 | 5.8% | 31.9% | 29.1% | 1965 | $923 | 25.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| Dalton | 2.36 | 44.5 | 11.3% | 17.3% | 31.9% | 1985 | $900 | 20.6% | 94.3% | 7.8% |
| Gilman | 2.23 | 51.2 | 6.6% | 21.9% | 31.6% | 1951 | $1,100 | 17.9% | 77.8% | 14.0% |
| Lisbon | 2.42 | 50.4 | 7.6% | 18.9% | 21.8% | 1960 | $1,315 | 31.4% | 93.1% | 2.1% |
| Tinkerville | 2.35 | 55.2 | 5.5% | 11.1% | 23.6% | 1980 | $1,136 | 26.4% | 87.9% | 6.2% |
| Ralston Corner | 2.18 | 49.8 | 11.2% | 6.4% | 25.0% | 1977 | $1,111 | 22.1% | 89.9% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ault, CO · Webster, SD · Towamensing Trails, PA · Bristol, IL · Buchanan, TN · Central City, IA · Remington, IN · Eros, LA · Goldthwaite, TX · Hico, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bethlehem. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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