Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping 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
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Epping | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest 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+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Epping 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.