Compare towns
Bedford vs Hanover vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
8,479 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bedford School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.