Bedford

Hillsborough Countyβ€’Merrimack Valleyβ€’Population: 23,322

Overview

Bedford ranks among New Hampshire's most affluent communities, offering excellent schools, beautiful neighborhoods, and convenient access to Manchester and beyond. Located in Hillsborough County, Bedford combines rural character with upscale suburban amenities. The town's winding roads, stone walls, and preserved open spaces create a distinctly New England atmosphere, while the town center maintains its historic character around the Bedford Village Common.

Bedford's school system is consistently rated among the state's finest, with high per-pupil spending and strong academic performance attracting families willing to pay premium housing prices for educational quality. The town offers excellent recreational facilities, including the Bedford Village Inn, numerous conservation areas, and well-maintained athletic fields. Bedford's location provides easy access to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and major highways while feeling removed from urban congestion.

The town's housing market features primarily single-family homes on larger lots, with many properties offering privacy and natural settings. Bedford attracts successful professionals, executives, and families seeking the best schools and a prestigious address. While property values and taxes are among the state's highest, residents value the combination of excellent education, safety, natural beauty, and convenient location that Bedford provides.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Top schools
  • β€’Low crime
  • β€’Affluent
  • β€’Well-maintained

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Very expensive
  • β€’Exclusive feel
  • β€’Limited diversity

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Bedford.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$16.49
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$14.25
Equalization ratio: 86%
Municipal
$3.87
Local School
$10.45
State Education
$1.15
County
$1.02

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$16.49$14.25$3.87$10.45$1.15$1.02

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$4,123$344
$350,000$5,771$481
$500,000$8,245$687
$750,000$12,367$1,031
$1,000,000$16,490$1,374

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $16.49 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
81Β°F
Winter Avg High
36.9Β°F
Annual Snowfall
48.9 in
Annual Rainfall
49.4 in
Sunny Days/Year
267
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
54 mi
~66 min drive
Manchester
5 mi
~12 min drive
Portsmouth
50 mi
~66 min drive
Concord
21 mi
~31 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
8/10
Crime Rate
8.32/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) β€’ Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
28/100
Trail Miles
11.3
0
Boat Launches
1
State Parks
2
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$151,850
Per Capita Income
$65,822
Median Family Income
$176,385

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$539,500
Median Rent
$1,847/mo
Homeownership Rate
84.07%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
1.86%
In Labor Force
12,066
Work From Home
0.16%

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
36.73%
Total with Degree
5,798

πŸš—Commute

Work From Home
0.16%

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
44 years
Avg Household Size
2.88 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Bedford with Other Towns

See how Bedford stacks up against other NH communities.