Compare towns
Exeter vs Conway vs Meredith 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%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Conway | Meredith | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
10,141 |
6,758Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55±4.1 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Meredith 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Conway 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 |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% 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 |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Meredith 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Conway School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Kennett High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.7 |
11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.