Compare towns
Hampton vs Bedford vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Hampton | Bedford | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
23,746Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bedford School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bedford High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.4 |
| 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.