Compare towns
Bedford vs Ogunquit vs Stratham vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Ogunquit | Stratham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
1,379Lowest |
7,754 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack 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 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | — | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.