Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Hampton vs Mapleton
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Exeter | Hampton | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
16,151 |
16,426 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Mapleton 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Hampton 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1 |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.