Compare towns
Bedford vs Epping vs Newfields vs Pelham
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 the most people working from home (27%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Epping | Newfields | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
7,430 |
2,023Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Bedford 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above 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 |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Epping School District | Newfields School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Epping High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.