Compare towns
Amherst vs Bedford vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amherst | Bedford | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
23,746Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bedford School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.