Compare towns
Stoddard vs Bedford vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Stoddard | Bedford | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
23,746Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,154±$160 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Bedford School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
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| 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.