Compare towns
Andover vs Bedford vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Bedford has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
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 | Andover | Bedford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
23,746 |
16,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.