Compare towns
Windham vs Wells 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 the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($485k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Wells | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
11,713Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Wells 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 135% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Lowest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Wells High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.