Compare towns
Hampstead vs Bedford vs Hooksett vs Pelham
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
23,746Highest |
15,057 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Hampstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Bedford 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Bedford School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.