Compare towns
Exeter vs Bedford vs Londonderry
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 highest household income ($167k).
Londonderry has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Londonderry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
23,746 |
26,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
42.7±0.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Londonderry 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 |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$132,556±$14k 34% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$505,200±$20k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,803±$154Lowest 21% 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 |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,069Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±7.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Londonderry 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 | #37 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bedford School District | Londonderry School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Bedford High School | Londonderry Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.5Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.