Compare towns
Exeter vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Portsmouth | Wilmot | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,545 |
1,487Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Wilmot 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | Portsmouth School District | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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.