Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Bedford vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k 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 | Mont Vernon | Bedford | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,636Lowest |
23,746Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Bedford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest 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+ | 50.8% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Bedford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.