Compare towns

Bedford vs Pelham vs Richmond

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).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.

MeasureBedfordPelhamRichmond
People
Population
23,746Highest
14,449
4,159Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.2Highest
16% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.7±5.6
12% above U.S.
Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham 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.
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
$108,235±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$6,868Lowest
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±15.3
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford and Pelham 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 #48 of 120 in NH #5 of 70 in VT
School district Bedford School District Pelham School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town Bedford High School Pelham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
10.4Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.