Compare towns
Windham vs Durham vs Hampton Falls 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Windham | Durham | Hampton Falls | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
15,080 |
2,328Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% 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±$50k 80% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803Lowest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.3Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.