Compare towns
Bedford vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Stratham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Norwich | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
11,685 |
3,640Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781Lowest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.