Compare towns

Bedford vs Deerfield vs Nottingham

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 expensive homes ($612k median).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).

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.

MeasureBedfordDeerfieldNottingham
People
Population
23,746Highest
4,932Lowest
5,357
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
NH: +4.6%
+13.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45±2.2Highest
4% above NH
42.8±4.2
about the NH average
38.8±6.7Lowest
10% below NH
Bedford and Deerfield 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%
20.9%±4.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.9%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Nottingham 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%
17.5%±3.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.4%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
Bedford and Nottingham 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%
47.3%
NH: 40.6%
40.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1
NH: 6%
3.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
Nottingham 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
69% above NH
$131,563±$10k
33% above NH
$122,201±$20kLowest
23% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$612,100±$26kHighest
52% above NH
$421,000±$33kLowest
5% above NH
$457,500±$26k
14% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,099±$274Highest
41% above NH
$1,593±$318Lowest
7% above NH
$2,068±$1k
39% above NH
Bedford and Nottingham 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
$7,369
11% above NH
$7,319Lowest
10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±15.3
NH: 48.2%
17.4%±17.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Nottingham 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%
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
94.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990
11 yrs newer than NH
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1992Highest
13 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below NH
34 minHighest
28% above NH
34 min
27% above NH
Work from home
27%±3.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.4%±6.3
NH: 16.8%
22.2%±5.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Bedford and Deerfield 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 #61 of 120 in NH #15 of 120 in NH
School district Bedford School District Deerfield School District Nottingham 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

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.