Compare towns

Windham vs Grantham vs Pelham 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 the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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.

MeasureWindhamGranthamPelhamBedford
People
Population
16,038
3,465Lowest
14,449
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+14%
NH: +4.6%
+10.3%
NH: +4.6%
+10%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
50.4±7.5Highest
16% above NH
41.5±2.7
4% below NH
45±2.2
4% above NH
Grantham 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%
19.1%±6.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.7
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%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17%±6.9
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
20.5%±2.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bedford and Grantham 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%
59.6%
NH: 40.6%
40%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
63%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±6
NH: 6%
5.9%±1.3Highest
NH: 6%
4.7%±2.1
NH: 6%
Pelham and Grantham 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
$106,403±$54kLowest
7% above NH
$135,956±$19k
37% 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±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$343,100±$39kLowest
15% below NH
$552,600±$27k
37% above NH
$612,100±$26k
52% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
—
$1,425±$88Lowest
4% below NH
$2,099±$274
41% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$7,605Lowest
14% above NH
$8,634
30% above NH
$9,803
47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
—
67.3%±12.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
59.4%±15.3
NH: 48.2%
Pelham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%
NH: 7.2%
0%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
100%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.7%
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1987Lowest
8 yrs newer than NH
1987Lowest
8 yrs newer than NH
1990
11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
15% above NH
23 minLowest
16% below NH
30 min
10% above NH
25 min
5% below NH
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
13.8%±6.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
27%±3.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Bedford and Pelham 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 #6 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH #7 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Grantham School District Pelham School District Bedford School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town Pelham High School Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
—
10.4Lowest
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.