Compare towns
Bedford vs Epping vs Atkinson 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 most kids (22.7% under 18).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Epping | Atkinson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
7,430 |
7,267Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Atkinson 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 69% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Bedford and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Bedford and Atkinson 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 |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% 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 | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Epping High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.