Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hampton Falls vs Exeter vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the most kids (25% 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 | Dunbarton | Hampton Falls | Exeter | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,328Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.