Compare towns
Windham vs Dover vs Bedford vs Merrimack
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Dover | Bedford | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Lowest |
33,364Highest |
23,746 |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Dover 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Merrimack 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dover School District | Bedford School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dover Senior High School | Bedford High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.7 |
13.5Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.