Compare towns
Bedford vs Durham vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
15,080 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Bedford and Wolfeboro 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.3 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.