Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bedford vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Barnstead | Bedford | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
23,746Highest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Bedford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
| Bedford and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Nottingham 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Bedford School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.