Compare towns

Roxbury vs Stratham 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

Roxbury has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Bedford has the most renters (17.1% rent).

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.

MeasureRoxburyStrathamBedford
People
Population
299Lowest
7,754
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
43.2±17.7
about the NH average
41.6±4.9Lowest
4% below NH
45±2.2Highest
4% above NH
Bedford and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±11.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
22.7%±2.5
NH: 18.2%
Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±10.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.5%±2.1
NH: 20.1%
Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
63%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.4%±15.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
4.7%±2.1
NH: 6%
Roxbury and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,226±$14kLowest
30% below NH
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$167,418±$12kHighest
69% above NH
Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,100±$219kLowest
20% below NH
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$612,100±$26k
52% above NH
Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$2,099±$274Lowest
41% above NH
Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,787Lowest
13% below NH
$9,781
47% above NH
$9,803Highest
47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
59.4%±15.3
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Bedford 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%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1990Highest
11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
22% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
25 min
5% below NH
Work from home
0.7%±1.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
27%±3.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Bedford and Stratham 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 — #43 of 120 in NH #7 of 120 in NH
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Bedford School District
High school in town — None in town Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.5
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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.