Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Hooksett 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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Keene | Hooksett | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939 |
15,057Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hooksett 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Bedford 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Hooksett School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 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.