Compare towns
Williston vs Stratham 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Williston | Stratham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
7,754Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.