Compare towns
Exeter vs Bristol 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bristol | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,273Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest 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 | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% 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 | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Bristol 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% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfound Area School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Newfound Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.