Compare towns
Bedford vs Bow vs Dorset 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 most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bow | Dorset | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
8,335 |
2,092Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Bow 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±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Bow School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School | None in town | 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 | 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.