Compare towns
Bedford vs Bow vs Dorset vs Windham
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 most renters (17.1% rent).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Bow | Dorset | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
8,335 |
2,092Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow 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. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Bow School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.