Compare towns
Bedford vs White River Junction vs Windham vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | White River Junction | Windham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
3,364Lowest |
16,038 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Amherst 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | — | Windham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | — | Windham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.