Compare towns
Exeter vs Berwick vs Bedford vs Newfields
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%).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Berwick | Bedford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
1,998Lowest |
23,746Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% 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% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Berwick 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% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Newfields 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. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Bedford School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.