Compare towns
Bedford vs Sutton vs Windham vs Hooksett
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 most people working from home (27%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Sutton | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
790Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 84% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.