Compare towns
Amherst vs Bedford vs Plainfield
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
23,746Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Amherst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Amherst 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Bedford 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 |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% 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±$30k 34% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Bedford and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bedford School District | Plainfield 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.