Compare towns
Bedford vs Hooksett vs Maynard vs Ipswich
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 people working from home (32.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727 |
15,057Highest |
10,712Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Ipswich 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% 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%±1.3 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±$23kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16k 72% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 170% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40k 124% 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. |
$1,598±$90Lowest 13% above 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. |
$7,960 155% 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% |
51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% 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. |
1964 16 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 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Maynard 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 | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Hooksett School District | Maynard | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Bedford High | None in town | Maynard High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.7 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.