Compare towns
Bedford vs Middlesex vs Calais
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Calais 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.