Compare towns
Bedford vs Jay 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Jay | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
471Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Jay and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack and Bedford 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
— | $1,932±$147Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Bedford 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 | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.