Compare towns
Appleton vs Bedford vs Exeter vs Liberty
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Appleton | Bedford | Exeter | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
23,746Highest |
16,151 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% 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% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
21.8%±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% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below 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 | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below 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%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above 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% |
14.4%±8.8 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.