Compare towns
Bedford vs Durham vs Lyme
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).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
15,080 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.