Compare towns
Bedford vs Exeter vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
16,151 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below 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. |
$7,149Lowest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.