Compare towns
Bedford vs Nottingham vs Windham vs Merrimack
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 people working from home (27%).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Merrimack has the oldest housing (typical home built 1985).
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 | Nottingham | Windham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
5,357Lowest |
16,038 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Nottingham 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% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Merrimack 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 |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford 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 |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Nottingham School District | Windham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Windham High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.