Compare towns

Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Ogunquit 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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureExeterHampton FallsOgunquitBedford
People
Population
16,151
2,328
1,379Lowest
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
45±2.2Lowest
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
$166,157±$14k
106% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
Bedford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$772,600±$76k
132% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$612,100±$26k
84% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hampton Falls 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.
$1,852±$475Lowest
31% above U.S.
—
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
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
183% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$9,803
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 120 in NH — — #7 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hampton Falls School District — Bedford School District
High school in town Exeter High School None in town — Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
— —
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.