Compare towns
Bedford vs Bow vs Pembroke vs Stratham
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 oldest population (median age 45).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Bow | Pembroke | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
8,335 |
7,438Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| 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 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Bow 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 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Bow School District | Pembroke School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
13.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.