Compare towns
Bedford vs Hanover vs Ogunquit vs Merrimack
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%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
11,685 |
1,379Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest 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. |
41.5±2.2 7% 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% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±1.2 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. |
$127,219±$16k 58% 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±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% 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±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,932±$147Lowest 37% 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. |
$7,345 135% 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% |
34.9%±9.4 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% |
3% 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% |
88.9% 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. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Hanover High School | — | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.