Compare towns

Bedford vs Windsor 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 highest household income ($167k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
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.

MeasureBedfordWindsorExeter
People
Population
23,746Highest
2,060Lowest
16,151
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
44.6±12.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±8.8
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor 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%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
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±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$1,002±$107Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% 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.
$4,878Lowest
56% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±20Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #7 of 120 in NH #61 of 70 in VT #22 of 120 in NH
School district Bedford School District — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town Bedford High School — Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
—
12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.