Compare towns
Exeter vs Derry vs Bedford vs Hampstead
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%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Derry | Bedford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
34,116Highest |
23,746 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below 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 |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hampstead 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Bedford School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
13.5 |
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| 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.