Compare towns
Durham vs Bedford vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
23,746Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Bedford and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Pembroke 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 NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.