Compare towns

Bedford vs Stratham vs White River Junction vs Windham

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 oldest population (median age 45).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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.

MeasureBedfordStrathamWhite River JunctionWindham
People
Population
23,746Highest
7,754
3,364Lowest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.2Highest
16% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$12k
107% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
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
84% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
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
49% above U.S.
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
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
214% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±15.3
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Bedford School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District — Windham School District
High school in town Bedford High School None in town — Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
— —
12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.