Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Wakefield 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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.
| Measure | Exeter | Newfields | Wakefield | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% 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% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Wakefield 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. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 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% |
4.9%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% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older 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 |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 7 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.