Compare towns
Bedford vs Hooksett vs Hudson vs Amherst
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 expensive homes ($612k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Hudson | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
15,057 |
25,557Highest |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Hudson 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Amherst 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson 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 69% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Bedford and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,636 about the NH average |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 min 18% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bedford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hooksett School District | Hudson School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Alvirne High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.