Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs North Hampton vs Merrimack
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 highest household income ($167k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | North Hampton | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
16,151 |
4,543Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Merrimack 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Merrimack 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 69% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 41% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and North 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5 |
| 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.