Compare towns

Bedford vs Goffstown 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 people working from home (27%).
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasureBedfordGoffstownMapleton
People
Population
23,746Highest
18,513
1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.2Highest
16% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
Bedford and Mapleton 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%
16%±2.5Lowest
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%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
$91,731±$25kLowest
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$377,400±$20k
13% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$1,231±$161
13% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$6,941
123% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
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 minLowest
4% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #7 of 120 in NH #35 of 120 in NH —
School district Bedford School District Goffstown School District RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town Bedford High School Goffstown High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
12.6Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.