Compare towns
Dorset vs Bedford vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Dorset | Bedford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
23,746Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Bedford School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.