Compare towns
Bow vs Exeter vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
16,151Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| 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±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.