Compare towns
Bedford vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Hampstead | Hooksett | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
9,102 |
15,057 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Hampstead 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 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.