Compare towns
Wilder vs Durham vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wilder | Durham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.