Compare towns
Bedford vs Andover vs Goffstown
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Andover | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
36,652Highest |
18,513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.