Compare towns
Bedford vs Stratham vs Merrimack vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 45).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
7,754Lowest |
28,164Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% 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%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$12k 69% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford 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±$36k 63% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 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% NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Merrimack High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.