Compare towns
Bedford vs Newfane vs Windham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Newfane | Windham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,456Lowest |
16,038 |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.