Compare towns
Bedford vs Orange vs Windham vs Hooksett
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 people working from home (27%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | Orange | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
320Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Bedford and Orange 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% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Orange 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham 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% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | — | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.