Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bow vs Exeter vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Atkinson | Bow | Exeter | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,335 |
16,151Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.