Compare towns
Bedford vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton
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).
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Castle Hill | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
281Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Mapleton 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% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$54,250±$14kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.