Compare towns
Exeter vs Madison vs Ogunquit vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Madison | Ogunquit | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,680 |
1,379Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
— | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Madison School District | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.