Compare towns
Bedford vs Mapleton vs Washburn
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.
| Measure | Bedford | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bedford 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 107% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Washburn 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.