Compare towns
Bedford vs Dover vs Exeter vs White River Junction
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Bedford | Dover | Exeter | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
33,364Highest |
16,151 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below 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 | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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 | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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 | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.7 |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.