Compare towns
Exeter vs Dover vs Stratham 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Dover | Stratham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
33,364Highest |
7,754Lowest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Stratham 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 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.7 |
— | 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.