Compare towns
Bedford vs Hampton Falls vs Windham vs Merrimack
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%).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Windham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
2,328Lowest |
16,038 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Bedford 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 |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 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 |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hampton Falls School District | Windham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Windham High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.