Compare towns
Newfields vs Bedford vs Bath vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Bedford | Bath | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,815 |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 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 | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #31 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Bedford School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Morse High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.