Compare towns
Exeter vs Wilder vs Brentwood 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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Wilder | Brentwood | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
3,087Lowest |
4,641 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter 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 37% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$165,509±$23k 105% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$528,100±$75k 59% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Bedford 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,713 211% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and Bedford 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Brentwood School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.