Compare towns
Pelham vs Bedford vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Pelham | Bedford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
23,746Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% 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 | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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 | 3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bedford High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.