Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Mapleton vs Newfields
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 most people working from home (27%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
16,151 |
1,884Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 107% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 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.