Compare towns
Exeter vs Bow vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Exeter | Bow | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,335 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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 | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Bow 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.