Compare towns
Exeter vs Nelson vs Sullivan 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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Nelson | Sullivan | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
648Lowest |
687 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Sullivan and Exeter 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter 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% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson 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 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.