Compare towns
Bedford vs Cornwall vs Pelham vs Hooksett
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 highest household income ($167k).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Cornwall | Pelham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,208Lowest |
14,449 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Cornwall 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.