Bethlehem

Grafton County•White Mountains•Population: 2,484

Overview

Bethlehem is a historic resort town in Grafton County, once a major 19th-century summer destination known for its clean mountain air, drawing visitors seeking relief from hay fever. The town's Main Street retains grand Victorian-era buildings from that era.

The Rocks Estate and nearby Bretton Woods and Cannon Mountain give Bethlehem continued access to hiking, skiing, and mountain scenery. The town's arts community and small shops have revitalized parts of its historic downtown in recent years.

Housing in Bethlehem remains affordable relative to some other White Mountains towns, drawing artists, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate its historic character and mountain setting.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Historic resort town
•Mountain access
•Arts community
•Scenic views

✗ Cons

•Remote location
•Limited jobs
•Harsh winters

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Bethlehem.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$16.19

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$12.53

Equalization ratio: 77%

Municipal

$4.50

Local School

$9.28

State Education

$1.23

County

$1.18

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$16.19	$12.53	$4.50	$9.28	$1.23	$1.18

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$4,048	$337
$350,000	$5,667	$472
$500,000	$8,095	$675
$750,000	$12,143	$1,012
$1,000,000	$16,190	$1,349

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $16.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

75.3°F

Winter Avg High

30.5°F

Annual Snowfall

69.5 in

Annual Rainfall

47.3 in

Sunny Days/Year

240

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

154 mi

~175 min drive

Manchester

104 mi

~117 min drive

Portsmouth

146 mi

~167 min drive

Concord

86 mi

~96 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

8/10

Crime Rate

7.25/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

55/100

Trail Miles

162.9

Boat Launches

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:58 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Campgrounds:3

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$82,063

Per Capita Income

$41,183

Median Family Income

$87,206

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$245,600

Median Rent

$814/mo

Homeownership Rate

77.95%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

4.82%

In Labor Force

1,368

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

19.4%

Total with Degree

403

👥Demographics

Median Age

54.2 years

Avg Household Size

2.41 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Bethlehem