Bradford

Merrimack County•Merrimack Valley•Population: 1,662

Overview

Bradford is a rural town in Merrimack County near the Lake Sunapee region, with a small downtown along the Warner River. The town's farmland and forested hills give it a classic rural New Hampshire character.

Bradford's proximity to Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee provides recreational access, while the town's small commercial center includes local businesses serving the surrounding rural community. The Warner River offers fishing and paddling close to downtown.

Housing in Bradford remains relatively affordable for the Sunapee region, drawing families and retirees who want lake and mountain proximity without premium prices.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Near Sunapee
•River access
•Affordable
•Rural character

✗ Cons

•Limited services
•Small downtown
•Remote location

Cost of Owning Here

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

2025 Local Tax Rate

$16.89

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$16.16

Equalization ratio: 96%

Municipal

$6.53

Local School

$7.97

State Education

$0.83

County

$1.56

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.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$16.89	$16.16	$6.53	$7.97	$0.83	$1.56

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$4,223	$352
$350,000	$5,912	$493
$500,000	$8,445	$704
$750,000	$12,668	$1,056
$1,000,000	$16,890	$1,408

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $16.89 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.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

78.8°F

Winter Avg High

34.8°F

Annual Snowfall

69.4 in

Annual Rainfall

50.3 in

Sunny Days/Year

263

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

92 mi

~109 min drive

Manchester

42 mi

~51 min drive

Portsmouth

84 mi

~101 min drive

Concord

28 mi

~41 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

9/10

Crime Rate

6.02/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

28/100

Trail Miles

4.3

Boat Launches

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$83,833

Per Capita Income

$44,371

Median Family Income

$105,347

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$252,900

Median Rent

$894/mo

Homeownership Rate

89.24%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

0.78%

In Labor Force

897

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

23.95%

Total with Degree

269

👥Demographics

Median Age

46.6 years

Avg Household Size

2.48 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Bradford

one registered condo association — offering active low-maintenance living options.

One condo association▼

🏢Bradford Pines Condominium Association(18 units)

Median Income

$125k

familiescommuters

Compare Bradford with Other Towns

See how Bradford stacks up against other NH communities.

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