Compare towns
Exeter vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
6,571Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Bedford and Wolfeboro 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.