Compare towns
Bedford vs Strafford vs Tunbridge
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k 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 | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,372 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,645Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Tunbridge 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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 |
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.