What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stratham	Bedford
People
Population	7,754Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH	45±2.2Highest 4% above NH
	Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%	22.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%	20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	63%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$151,998±$20kLowest 53% above NH	$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH
	Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH	$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH
	Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH	$2,099±$274Lowest 41% above NH
	Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,781Lowest 47% above NH	$9,803Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2%	59.4%±15.3Lowest 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	2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	2.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH	1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	27%±3.4Highest 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	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	None in town	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.