Compare towns
Bedford vs Durham vs Hanover vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hanover | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
15,080 |
11,685Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Hanover 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 52% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.