Compare towns
Appleton 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
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Appleton | Bedford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
23,746Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.