Compare towns
Bedford vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Putney
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%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bedford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | 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 | 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.