Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Durham 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%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,576Lowest |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below 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 | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 10 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.