Compare towns

Richmond vs Pelham vs Bedford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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.

MeasureRichmondPelhamBedford
People
Population
4,159Lowest
14,449
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6
12% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
45±2.2Highest
16% above U.S.
Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$108,235±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above U.S.
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Lowest
120% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #5 of 70 in VT #48 of 120 in NH #7 of 120 in NH
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Pelham School District Bedford School District
High school in town None in town Pelham High School Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.