Compare towns
Exeter vs Ashland 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 affordable homes ($457k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Ashland | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
18,873 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% 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 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Bedford 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. |
$7,444Lowest 139% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest 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 | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Ashland 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ashland | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Ashland High | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.