Compare towns
Bedford vs Dorset 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
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bedford | Dorset | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
2,092Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.