Compare towns
Nelson vs Stoddard 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
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Nelson | Stoddard | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,072 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | Stoddard School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.