Compare towns
Bedford vs Andover vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k 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 | Bedford | Andover | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
36,652Highest |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kLowest 90% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,773Lowest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Andover 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.