Compare towns
Strafford vs Bedford vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Strafford | Bedford | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
23,746Highest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123k 71% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,750±$394 24% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,284 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bedford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.