Compare towns
Bow vs Derry vs Exeter vs Hampstead
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 most affordable homes ($432k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
34,116Highest |
16,151 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% 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 |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Bow 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% 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 |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% 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%±20.2 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampstead 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 | #49 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 | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.