Compare towns
Bedford vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Dedham | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
25,237Highest |
18,513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Dedham 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. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dedham | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Dedham High | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.