Compare towns
Bedford vs Durham vs Newfields vs Manchester
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Newfields | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
15,080 |
2,023Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Bedford and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Newfields 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±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.3Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.