Compare towns
Windham vs Keene vs Durham 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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Keene | Durham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
22,939 |
15,080Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford and Windham 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Keene 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Keene High School | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.3Lowest |
12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.