Compare towns
Bedford vs Jay vs Pelham
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 highest household income ($167k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Pelham 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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
471Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest 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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.