Compare towns
Bedford vs Hanover vs Plymouth vs Stratham
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Plymouth | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
11,685 |
6,601Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| 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 52% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| 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 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Hanover High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.