Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Hanover 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Newfields | Hanover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
11,685 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
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.