Compare towns
Bedford vs Hooksett vs Nottingham
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 highest household income ($167k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
15,057 |
5,357Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Bedford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Nottingham 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 |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
| Bedford and Nottingham 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 |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Bedford 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% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hooksett School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.