Compare towns
Bedford vs Merrimack vs Newfields vs Exeter
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 most people working from home (27%).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Merrimack | Newfields | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
28,164Highest |
2,023Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$12k 69% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% 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 | $9,803 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Merrimack School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Merrimack High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.5 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.