Compare towns
Exeter vs Natick vs Newfields 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 affordable homes ($457k median).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Natick | Newfields | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
36,873Highest |
2,023Lowest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Bedford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 37% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Natick and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Natick | Newfields School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Natick High | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.6 |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.