Compare towns
Nottingham vs Bedford vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Nottingham | Bedford | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357 |
23,746Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Bedford and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Bedford and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford 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% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Bedford School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.