Compare towns
Windham vs Groton vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Groton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
11,390Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton 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±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kLowest 107% above U.S. |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Groton 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 128% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803Lowest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Bedford 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Groton-Dunstable | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.7Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.