Compare towns
Windham vs Auburn vs Bedford vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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 | Windham | Auburn | Bedford | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
6,119Lowest |
23,746 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$124,213±$6kLowest 25% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Auburn School District | Bedford School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bedford High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.