Compare towns
Bedford vs Brookline vs Pelham
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Pelham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1987).
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 | Brookline | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
5,736Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Pelham 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
| Brookline 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±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Brookline School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.