Compare towns
Bedford vs Manchester vs Norwich
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Manchester | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
115,643Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford 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%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Norwich 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. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Norwich 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bedford School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.