Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Methuen
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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
16,151Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest 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% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% 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% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older 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. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.