Compare towns
Goffstown vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Ripton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513 |
508Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
— | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Ripton 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | 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 |
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.