Compare towns
Bedford vs Cornwall vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Cornwall | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Cornwall 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.