Compare towns
Bedford vs Barnstead vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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.
| Measure | Bedford | Barnstead | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
4,994Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% 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 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest 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+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,867±$194 25% 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 | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest 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 | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Barnstead School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | 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.