Compare towns
Bedford vs Strafford vs Warren
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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford 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% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60% 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%±4Lowest 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. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123k 71% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394 24% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Warren 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. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$7,284 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Strafford 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% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 History | 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.