Compare towns
Amherst vs Milford vs Somersworth 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%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Milford | Somersworth | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Lowest |
16,337 |
12,111 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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 |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% 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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Somersworth 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% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.4 |
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.