Compare towns
Bedford vs Waterbury 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Waterbury has the most affordable homes ($447k 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 | Waterbury | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
5,405Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Waterbury 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% |
21.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Windham 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. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above 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. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$6,435Lowest 106% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Windham 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 |
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.