Compare towns

Exeter vs Newfields vs Sullivan 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureExeterNewfieldsSullivanBedford
People
Population
16,151
2,023
1,246Lowest
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
47.1±15Highest
21% above U.S.
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
18%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
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±$13k
37% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$59,643±$14kLowest
26% below U.S.
$167,418±$12k
107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$222,000±$33kLowest
33% below U.S.
$612,100±$26k
84% above U.S.
Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$883±$114Lowest
38% below U.S.
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
Bedford and Newfields 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$2,228Lowest
29% below U.S.
$9,803
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
34.9%±23.6Lowest
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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±7.9Lowest
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 — — #7 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Newfields School District RSU 24 Bedford School District
High school in town Exeter High School None in town Sumner Memorial High School Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
—
10.5Lowest
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 59 photos → 6 photos → 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.