Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Bedford vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | Goffstown | Hooksett | Bedford | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057Lowest |
23,746 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Bedford and Goffstown 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Bedford and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Bedford School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Bedford High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.