Compare towns
Stratham vs Bedford vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
23,746Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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 88% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| 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 214% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | Norwich 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 |
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.