Compare towns

Rupert vs Bedford vs Ira

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).

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.

MeasureRupertBedfordIra
People
Population
676
23,746Highest
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
45±2.2Lowest
16% above U.S.
54.1±5.5
39% above U.S.
Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
42.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Bedford and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,229±$36k
9% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,500±$63k
9% above U.S.
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$272,900±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,594
47% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,146Lowest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford and Rupert 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
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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.