The Town FilesBethlehem, New Hampshire
Town in Grafton County · population 2,484 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,300
- Household income
- $85,029
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 101 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 50.6
Bethlehem is a town of 2,484 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $288,300, 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 $288,300, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $85,029, which is more affordable than 71% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,174 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,174 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $85,029 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.4% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.2% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.1% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 31.2% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 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
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 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 7.3%.
Public schools in Bethlehem
3 public schools with 356 students, about 7.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Senior High School | 9-13 | 143 | 7.5 |
| Bethlehem Elementary School | PK-6 | 140 | 9.3 |
| Profile Junior High School | 7-8 | 73 | 5.6 |
Towns near Bethlehem
- Bethlehem, NH4.1 mi · 826 people · home $262,000
- Franconia, NH5.8 mi · 1,083 people · home $530,300
- Carroll, NH6.3 mi · 820 people · home $261,500
- Whitefield, NH7.7 mi · 1,460 people · home $195,400
- Whitefield, NH8.0 mi · 2,490 people · home $240,400
- Littleton, NH9.3 mi · 4,467 people · home $230,500
- Sugar Hill, NH9.9 mi · 647 people · home $639,700
- Dalton, NH10.1 mi · 933 people · home $191,400
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%. 28.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $288,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,029, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,174 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?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Bethlehem in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)