Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Bedford vs Stratham
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).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | North Hampton | Bedford | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,543Lowest |
23,746Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| North Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Bedford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| 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.