Compare towns
Goffstown vs Epping vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Goffstown | Epping | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
7,430Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Epping 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Epping School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Epping High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.