Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyme vs Newington 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 affordable homes ($457k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Newington | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
1,710 |
939Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Newington 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Newington and Bedford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Newington 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 → | 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.