Compare towns
Bow vs Dublin vs Exeter
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).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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 | Bow | Dublin | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,688Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Dublin and Exeter 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% |
21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Exeter 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% |
45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$104,659±$14kLowest 6% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$430,500±$72kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above 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 |
$1,325±$165Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Bow 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% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Dublin 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.