Compare towns
Hampstead vs Bedford vs Atkinson vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
23,746Highest |
7,267Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
17.4%±2.9 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%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% 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±$45k 29% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,661±$206 11% 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 | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest 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 |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Bedford School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.