Compare towns
Bedford vs Middlesex vs Pelham
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 the highest household income ($167k).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,943Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest 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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Bedford 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | 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 |
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.