Compare towns
Amherst vs Exeter vs Bow vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Amherst | Exeter | Bow | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,151Highest |
8,335 |
6,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Amherst and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hopkinton 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School | Bow High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.