Compare towns
Bedford vs Barnstead vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
4,994Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% 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%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Merrimack 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±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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 |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Barnstead 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Barnstead School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.