Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bedford vs Weare
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 the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
23,746Highest |
9,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% 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 | $6,554 about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Weare 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Bedford School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | John Stark 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.