Compare towns
Bedford vs Newfields vs Windham vs Amherst
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 most renters (17.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Newfields | Windham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
2,023Lowest |
16,038 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 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%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$189,583±$19k 91% above NH |
$153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Newfields School District | Windham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Windham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.