Compare towns
Amherst vs Kensington vs Mont Vernon vs Bedford
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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Kensington | Mont Vernon | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,009Lowest |
2,636 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above 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%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest 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%±3 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Kensington 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$526,300±$39kLowest 31% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Kensington and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Kensington 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Kensington School District | Mont Vernon School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.