Compare towns
Durham vs Bedford vs Norwich
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
23,746Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803Lowest 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Norwich 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.