Compare towns
Bedford vs Hampton vs Amherst
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
16,426 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Amherst 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
| Bedford and Hampton 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bedford 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Winnacunnet High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.