Compare towns
Windham vs Hooksett vs Andover vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Windham | Hooksett | Andover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
15,057 |
616Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Bedford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.