Compare towns
Henniker vs Stratham vs Bedford vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Stratham | Bedford | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
7,754 |
23,746Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.