Compare towns
Bedford vs Stratham vs Suncook vs Amherst
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).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Suncook | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
7,754 |
5,432Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 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% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Bedford and Amherst 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 |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% 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 |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| 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 |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bedford 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.