Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Deerfield 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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
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 | Lee | Deerfield | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,576Lowest |
4,932 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee 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 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Bedford 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Deerfield School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 10 photos → | 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.