Compare towns
Bedford vs Durham vs Lyme vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lyme | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
15,080 |
1,710Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.3 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → |
NH 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.