Compare towns
Bedford vs Concord vs Auburn
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Concord | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
44,375Highest |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Bedford and Auburn 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Concord 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% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Concord 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 |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Concord 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% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Concord High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.0Lowest |
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| 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.