Compare towns
Bedford vs North Hampton vs Exeter vs Hooksett
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | North Hampton | Exeter | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
4,543Lowest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| 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 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Exeter High School | 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 | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.