Compare towns
Bedford vs Lyme vs Stratham vs Pelham
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 the highest household income ($167k).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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 | Lyme | Stratham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,710Lowest |
7,754 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 69% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$552,600±$27kLowest 37% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Stratham 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.