Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Newfields
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
16,151 |
2,328 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampton Falls 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$12k 69% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.