Compare towns
Bedford vs Hooksett vs Weare
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).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
15,057 |
9,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Weare 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Hooksett 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
| Bedford and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hooksett School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.