Compare towns
Windham vs Cornish vs Bow vs Bedford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Cornish | Bow | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
1,816Lowest |
8,335 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bedford 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 |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Windham and Bow 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 |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Cornish School District | Bow School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.