Compare towns
Peru vs Bedford vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Peru | Bedford | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
23,746Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Bedford 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 | — |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.