Compare towns
Bedford vs South Hampton vs Stratham
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 highest household income ($167k).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | South Hampton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
984Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| South Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 69% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20kLowest 53% above NH |
| Bedford and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham 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 |
$1,889±$489Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| 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 47% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.