Compare towns
Grantham vs Cornish vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Grantham | Cornish | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465 |
1,816Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Cornish and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Grantham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 120 in NH | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Cornish School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.