Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Epping 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 renters (30.9% rent).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | North Hampton | Epping | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,543Lowest |
7,430 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and North Hampton 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Epping 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,742±$576Lowest 17% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Exeter 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Epping School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Epping High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.