Compare towns
Lebanon vs Windham vs Bedford vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Lebanon | Windham | Bedford | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
9,463Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Bedford and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Windham High School | Bedford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.