Compare towns

Newfields vs Bedford vs Pelham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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.

MeasureNewfieldsBedfordPelham
People
Population
2,023Lowest
23,746Highest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10%
NH: +4.6%
+10.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.1±1.8
about the NH average
45±2.2Highest
4% above NH
41.5±2.7Lowest
4% below NH
Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.7%±2.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.5%±2.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
63%
NH: 40.6%
40%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
4.7%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±1.3
NH: 6%
Newfields and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$167,418±$12k
69% above NH
$135,956±$19kLowest
37% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
61% above NH
$612,100±$26k
52% above NH
$552,600±$27kLowest
37% above NH
Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
$2,099±$274Highest
41% above NH
$1,425±$88Lowest
4% below NH
Bedford and Newfields 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
$9,803
47% above NH
$8,634Lowest
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59.4%±15.3
NH: 48.2%
67.3%±12.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
Pelham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%
NH: 7.2%
3.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1990
11 yrs newer than NH
1987Lowest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
4% below NH
25 minLowest
5% below NH
30 minHighest
10% above NH
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
27%±3.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Bedford and Newfields 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 #48 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District Bedford School District Pelham School District
High school in town None in town Bedford High School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
10.4Lowest
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.