Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bedford vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Bedford | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
23,746Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7 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 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest 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 | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Bedford School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.