Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Rye vs Stratham
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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
16,151 |
5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bedford 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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| 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.