Compare towns
Stratham vs Bedford vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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 | Stratham | Bedford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
23,746Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Bedford 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%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Stratham 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% 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±$26k 52% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% 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±$274 41% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | Hampstead 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.