Compare towns
White River Junction vs Bedford vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | White River Junction | Bedford | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
23,746 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.