Compare towns
Stratham vs Windham vs Bedford
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1986).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Windham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% 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%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 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% |
62.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford 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 |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274Lowest 41% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.