Compare towns
Exeter vs Andover vs Reading vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Exeter | Andover | Reading | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
616Lowest |
699 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest 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+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 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 | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% 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 | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.