Compare towns
Durham vs Bedford vs North Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bedford | North Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
23,746Highest |
322Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hartland and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$420,000±$354kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803Lowest 214% above U.S. |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.