What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bedford	Hull
People
Population	23,746Highest	10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.	56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Hull 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 107% above U.S.	$115,485±$14kLowest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.	$646,000±$38kHighest 94% above U.S.
	Hull and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$2,081±$187Lowest 47% above U.S.
	Bedford and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Hull 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%	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford and Hull 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	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Hull
High school in town	Bedford High School	Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	8.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.