Compare towns
Bedford vs Norwich vs Auburn vs Goffstown
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 the highest household income ($167k).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Norwich | Auburn | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
3,640Lowest |
6,119 |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #44 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Norwich School District | Auburn School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.