Compare towns
Bedford vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Amherst
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%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
| Strong and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strong 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 107% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst 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 | — | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.