Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bedford vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Hooksett | Bedford | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
23,746Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Bedford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,664±$187Lowest 12% 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 | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.