Compare towns
Bow vs Derry vs Exeter vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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 | Bow | Derry | Exeter | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
34,116 |
16,151 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Bow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Exeter 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.