Compare towns
Stoddard vs Bedford vs Newfields
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 most affordable homes ($330k median).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
23,746Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stoddard and Bedford 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% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Bedford 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±$12k 69% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | Newfields 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.