Compare towns
Exeter vs Newington vs Portsmouth 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Newington | Portsmouth | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
939Lowest |
22,545 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and Newington 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Newington and Bedford 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newington School District | Portsmouth School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.