Compare towns
Sutton vs Hooksett vs Bedford vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Sutton | Hooksett | Bedford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
15,057 |
23,746Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% 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 | $7,652 15% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Bedford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.