Compare towns
Exeter vs Appleton vs Kingston 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Appleton | Kingston | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
1,360Lowest |
6,275 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Appleton 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% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Kingston 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bedford 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Appleton Public Schools | Sanborn Regional School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
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.