Compare towns
Bedford vs Lyme vs Suncook
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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% 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%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Suncook 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% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Lyme 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±$15k 35% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.