Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Bedford vs Portsmouth
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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Kensington | Bedford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,009Lowest |
23,746Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Bedford and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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 |
$1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Bedford and Portsmouth 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Portsmouth 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Bedford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Bedford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.