Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Bethlehem is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Bethlehem beats New Hampshire on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 03574. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bethlehem
Bethlehem is an older town
28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across New Hampshire. Conditions like heart disease and arthritis become more common with age, so keep that in mind when comparing Bethlehem with the state. Conditions ↓
Bethlehem is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Franconia (A). Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New Hampshire figure falls outside Bethlehem’s likely range; Bethlehem’s figures come from ZIP code 03574, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Bethlehem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethlehem is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #22 of 126 in New Hampshire. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 93% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 87%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bethlehem’s median household income is $85,029; among the 10,401 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$106K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Bethlehem adults…
Bethlehem runs below NH on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Bethlehem is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across New Hampshire. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bethlehem as about how healthy they are.
Bethlehem and the towns around it
Bethlehem has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | A | 26.6% | 9.3% | 10.1% | ZIP 03574 |
| Carroll | — | — | — | — | |
| Littleton | C+ | 30.9% | 12.5% | 17.1% | ZIP 03561 |
| Hart's Location | — | — | — | — | |
| Sugar Hill | — | — | — | — | |
| Littleton | — | — | — | — | |
| Whitefield | B− | 35% | 12.6% | 14% | ZIP 03598 |
| Franconia | A | 26.3% | 11.6% | 10.1% | ZIP 03580 |
Carroll, Hart's Location and Sugar Hill: fewer than 1,000 residents. Littleton: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Bethlehem
No hospital or community health center in Bethlehem itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bethlehem; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with New Hampshire
Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.
146 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bethlehem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.
How Bethlehem adults are doing
About the same as New Hampshire on each measure.
3 in 10 Bethlehem adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.5% of Bethlehem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bethlehem adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bethlehem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bethlehem is better than New Hampshire on 2 and worse on 0; on the rest, the New Hampshire figure falls inside Bethlehem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bethlehem | NH | U.S. | vs NH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.1%11–15.5 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%9.9–13.1 | 11.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.4–16.1 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.6%22.1–31.6 | 31.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8–10.8 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29.2–35.8 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32.3–39.2 | 35.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.6%26.8–32.6 | 27.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 10.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.7–11.7 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%5.1–7.4 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%7.1–10.4 | 8.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%8.1–12.5 | 10.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%14.5–21.3 | 20.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.8–18.2 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.5%25.2–34.1 | 32.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.2–6.9 | 6.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%72.3–79.2 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.4%70.4–76.2 | 68.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%87.7–91.2 | 88.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.2–80.3 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.1%67.1–75 | 69.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%75.2–85.3 | 78.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%20.5–26.9 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.9%24.9–32.8 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.1%16.1–22.2 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.7%6.1–9.7 | 9.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.8%5.5–8.4 | 8.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%4–5.8 | 5.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.2–6 | 5.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.5%4.2–7.2 | 6.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24%20.7–27.6 | 26.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9–12.7 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11%9.4–12.7 | 12% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.3–8.1 | 7.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–4.1 | 3.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5.1–6.9 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.4 | 2.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New Hampshire figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bethlehem
Is Bethlehem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethlehem is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #22 of 126 in New Hampshire. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bethlehem?
CDC estimates 26.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.1% and 31.6%, against 31.8% across New Hampshire and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bethlehem?
Littleton Regional Healthcare in Littleton, 11.5 miles in a straight line from Bethlehem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bethlehem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–6.9%), against 6.8% across New Hampshire.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bethlehem more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bethlehem.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Hampshire figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.