Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Bedford vs Merrimack
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057Lowest |
23,746 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% 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% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Bedford School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Bedford High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 13.5Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.