Compare towns
Stratton vs Bedford vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k 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 | Stratton | Bedford | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
23,746Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33k 52% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 52% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.