The Town FilesBradford, New Hampshire
Town in Merrimack County · population 1,662 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $341,700
- Household income
- $108,015
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 50.3
Bradford is a town of 1,662 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $341,700, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of New Hampshire towns, better for families than 83% of New Hampshire towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of New Hampshire towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in New Hampshire
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Hampshire
- #12 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Hampshire
- #21 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
- #21 in The 50 Best Places for Young Families in America
How Bradford ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bradford is worth $341,700, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $108,015, which is more affordable than 83% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,507 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bradford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $341,700 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,507 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $108,015 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.8% | — |
Who lives in Bradford
| People | Bradford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 92.5% |
Weather in Bradford
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.0 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bradford since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 4, 2018 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Merrimack County since 1996
Merrimack County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4355: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Merrimack County
Merrimack County had 77,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,857 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Bradford itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Bradford
2 public schools with 195 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kearsarge Reg. Elementary School - Bradford | K-5 | 167 | 9.3 |
| Kearsarge Regional Preschool Bradford | PK-PK | 28 | 14.0 |
Towns near Bradford
- Hillsborough, NH5.4 mi · 5,939 people · home $272,300
- Washington, NH6.8 mi · 1,192 people · home $358,600
- Newbury, NH6.9 mi · 2,172 people · home $463,400
- Goshen, NH7.6 mi · 796 people · home $255,600
- Henniker, NH7.8 mi · 6,185 people · home $356,700
- Warner, NH8.0 mi · 2,937 people · home $353,100
- Henniker, NH8.0 mi · 3,166 people · home $296,400
- Sutton, NH8.0 mi · 1,978 people · home $362,600
Bradford questions
Is Bradford, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bradford scores better for retirees than 74% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 79%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Bradford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bradford is valued at $341,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,015, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,507 a month.
What is the weather like in Bradford?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 68.0 inches of snow.
Does Bradford get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bradford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 4, 2018. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)