Compare towns
Rye vs Hudson 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Rye | Hudson | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
25,557Highest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$124,213±$6kLowest 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Hudson School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.