Compare towns
Bedford vs Epping vs Windham 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pelham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1987).
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 | Windham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
7,430Lowest |
16,038 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 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%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%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 |
1996Highest 17 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 |
31 min 15% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Epping 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Epping School District | Windham School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Epping High School | Windham High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
12.8 |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.