Compare towns
Exeter vs Hartford vs Stratham 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%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Hartford | Stratham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
10,736 |
7,754Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hartford High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.6Lowest |
— | 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.