Compare towns
Pelham vs Bedford vs Litchfield
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 the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k 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 | Pelham | Bedford | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
23,746Highest |
8,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Bedford and Litchfield 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%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Bedford 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±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$162,036±$11k 64% above NH |
| Bedford and Litchfield 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 |
$485,000±$18kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Lowest 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 | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Bedford School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bedford High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.