Compare towns
Exeter vs Putney vs Berlin 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Putney | Berlin | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,622Lowest |
2,880 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 6 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.