Compare towns
Lee vs Windham 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
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Lee | Windham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 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+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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 | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274Lowest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest 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 | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.