Compare towns
Bedford vs Stratham vs Manchester vs Pelham
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Stratham | Manchester | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
7,754Lowest |
115,643Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Pelham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| 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 52% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 14.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.