Compare towns

Bedford vs Ogunquit vs Goffstown vs Amherst

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureBedfordOgunquitGoffstownAmherst
People
Population
23,746Highest
1,379Lowest
18,513
11,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kLowest
41% above U.S.
$153,196±$10k
90% above U.S.
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±$26k
84% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
$537,600±$30k
62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
—
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,941
123% above U.S.
$9,773
213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
27%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Amherst 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 — #35 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH
School district Bedford School District — Goffstown School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town Bedford High School — Goffstown High School Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
—
12.6
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.