Compare towns
Bedford vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
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 | Lee | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
4,576Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
— | $1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Manchester 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.