Compare towns
Hampstead vs Bedford vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Hampstead | Bedford | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
23,746Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Bedford and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
| Bedford and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Atkinson 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Bedford School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.