Compare towns
South Hampton vs Stratham vs Bedford vs Dublin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | South Hampton | Stratham | Bedford | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
7,754 |
23,746Highest |
1,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
| Dublin and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$104,659±$14kLowest 6% above NH |
| Bedford and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$430,500±$72kLowest 7% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,325±$165Lowest 11% below NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest 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 | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 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 | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.