Compare towns
Bedford vs New Boston vs Strafford
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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | New Boston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
6,165 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 69% above NH |
$154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Bedford and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Bedford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | New Boston School District | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.