Compare towns
Bedford vs New Castle vs Windham
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 Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | New Castle | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
827Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kLowest 69% above NH |
$176,953±$29k 79% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Lowest 41% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$3,218±$350 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$8,509Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | New Castle School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.