Compare towns
Kingston vs Lee 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
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Kingston | Lee | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
4,576Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Bedford 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.