Compare towns
Bedford vs Dorset vs Pelham vs Windham
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 the most renters (17.1% rent).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Dorset | Pelham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
2,092Lowest |
14,449 |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Pelham 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Pelham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.