Compare towns
Stoddard vs Bedford vs Nelson
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 the oldest population (median age 53).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
23,746Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bedford 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Bedford School District | Nelson School District |
| High school 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 |
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.