Compare towns
Exeter vs Atkinson vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Atkinson | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
7,267Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Atkinson 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 11% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Bedford and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Timberlane Regional School District | 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 Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.