Compare towns
Bedford vs Newfields vs Rye
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Newfields | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$12k 69% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Rye 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Newfields School District | Rye 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.