Compare towns
Bedford vs Reading vs Exeter vs Hooksett
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Reading | Exeter | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
699Lowest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 107% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Bedford 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Reading 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.