Compare towns
Bedford vs Stratham vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Stratham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
7,754Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 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% |
22%±2.5Lowest 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack 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 69% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% 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 |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,932±$147Lowest 30% 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.