Compare towns

Bedford vs Hanover vs Ogunquit

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 28.7).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureBedfordHanoverOgunquit
People
Population
23,746Highest
11,685
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
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%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,418±$12k
107% above U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% 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±$61k
148% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,099±$274Lowest
49% above U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% 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%
0%±61.1Lowest
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%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below U.S.
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
27%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #7 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH —
School district Bedford School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District —
High school in town Bedford High School Hanover High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.