Compare towns
Exeter vs Eliot vs Concord vs Bedford
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%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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 | Eliot | Concord | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
7,146Lowest |
44,375Highest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Concord 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #89 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Concord High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.0 |
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.