Compare towns
Windham vs Hanover vs Eliot 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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Eliot | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
8,479 |
7,146Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Lowest 38% 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Bedford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.