Compare towns
Bedford vs Hooksett vs Maynard vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Bedford | Hooksett | Maynard | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727 |
15,057Highest |
10,712 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23k 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 170% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Bedford 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 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #166 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Hooksett School District | Maynard | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Bedford High | None in town | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.