Compare towns
Bow vs Exeter vs White River Junction vs Pembroke
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%).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | White River Junction | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
16,151Highest |
3,364Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% 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±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| 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 207% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | — | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.