Compare towns
Meredith vs Bow 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
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
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 | Meredith | Bow | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
8,335 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Bow High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.