Compare towns
Bedford vs Derry 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 highest household income ($167k).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Derry | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
34,116Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% 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%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Pinkerton Academy | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.9Highest |
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.