Compare towns
Exeter vs Bedford vs Brentwood vs Kingston
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%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Bedford | Brentwood | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
23,746Highest |
4,641Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
43.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Bedford and Brentwood 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 |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Bedford and Brentwood 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 |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Brentwood and Bedford 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 |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bedford School District | Brentwood School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Bedford High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.