Compare towns

Barrington vs Bedford vs Hudson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

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.

MeasureBarringtonBedfordHudson
People
Population
9,489Lowest
23,746
25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+10%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
11% below NH
45±2.2
4% above NH
45.7±1.9Highest
6% above NH
Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
22.7%±2.5
NH: 18.2%
16.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.5%±2.1
NH: 20.1%
20.7%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%
NH: 40.6%
63%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
NH: 6%
4.7%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
7%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
Hudson and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14kLowest
11% above NH
$167,418±$12kHighest
69% above NH
$124,213±$6k
25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
about the NH average
$612,100±$26kHighest
52% above NH
$438,900±$11k
9% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
25% above NH
$2,099±$274Highest
41% above NH
$1,735±$123Lowest
16% above NH
Bedford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
7% above NH
$9,803Highest
47% above NH
$6,636Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
59.4%±15.3
NH: 48.2%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Barrington and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
82.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1990Highest
11 yrs newer than NH
1983Lowest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above NH
25 minLowest
5% below NH
31 minHighest
18% above NH
Work from home
18.7%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
27%±3.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.6%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #65 of 120 in NH #7 of 120 in NH #63 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District Bedford School District Hudson School District
High school in town None in town Bedford High School Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
11.6Lowest
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.