Compare towns
Bedford vs Hudson vs Stratham vs Manchester
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%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Hudson | Stratham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
25,557 |
7,754Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Stratham 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% |
34.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hudson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Alvirne High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.6Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.