Compare towns
Bedford vs Londonderry vs Rye
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%).
Londonderry has the most affordable homes ($505k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Londonderry | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
26,685Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
42.7±0.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Londonderry 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% |
16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±1Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Londonderry 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 69% above NH |
$132,556±$14kLowest 34% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Bedford and Rye 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 |
$505,200±$20kLowest 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,803±$154 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Bedford and Londonderry 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 |
$8,069 21% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±7.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #37 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Londonderry School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Londonderry Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.