Compare towns
Goffstown vs Mapleton vs Union vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | — | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.