Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
16,151Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% 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%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Bedford 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above 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% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Bedford 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.