Compare towns
Stratham vs Bedford vs Hanover vs Amherst
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,479 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 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%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 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% NH: 40.6% |
63%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kLowest 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | — | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.