Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bedford vs Wilton
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%).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876 |
23,746Highest |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Hooksett 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% |
36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% 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 | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.