Compare towns
Sutton vs Bedford vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Sutton | Bedford | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
23,746Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Sutton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest 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+ | 21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31kLowest 32% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% 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 | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% 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 | $1,656±$614Lowest 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest 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 | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.