Compare towns
Hanover vs Bedford vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Bedford | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
23,746 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$124,213±$6kLowest 25% above NH |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.