Compare towns
Worcester vs Bedford vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Worcester | Bedford | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
23,746Highest |
594Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
— | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Worcester 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bedford School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.