Compare towns
Bedford vs Wilder 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
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Wilder | Windham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
3,087Lowest |
16,038 |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 107% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
9.3%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% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 | — | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | — | Windham High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.