Compare towns
Madbury vs Bedford vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Madbury | Bedford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
23,746Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Bedford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Bedford and Madbury 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 |
$9,803Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.