The Town FilesBethlehem, New Hampshire
Community in Grafton County · population 826 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,000
- Household income
- $64,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 101 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.5
Bethlehem is a community of 826 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $262,000, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of New Hampshire towns, better for cycling than 91% of New Hampshire towns, quieter than 88% of New Hampshire towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $262,000, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $64,625, which is more affordable than 35% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,075 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,000 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,075 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $64,625 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.8% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 39.6% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 92.5% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 100.9 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 19, 1982 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 1982.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2006.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Bethlehem
- Bethlehem, NH4.1 mi · 2,484 people · home $288,300
- Littleton, NH5.3 mi · 4,467 people · home $230,500
- Littleton, NH6.9 mi · 6,005 people · home $282,900
- Sugar Hill, NH6.9 mi · 647 people · home $639,700
- Whitefield, NH7.5 mi · 1,460 people · home $195,400
- Franconia, NH7.8 mi · 1,083 people · home $530,300
- Dalton, NH8.0 mi · 933 people · home $191,400
- Lisbon, NH8.3 mi · 1,621 people · home $198,000
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 87% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 88%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $262,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,625, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,075 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 100.9 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 19, 1982. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)