Compare towns
Deerfield vs Bedford vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Deerfield | Bedford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kLowest 33% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Bedford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Bow 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Bow 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 |
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.