Compare towns
Exeter vs Pittsfield 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%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Pittsfield | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,105Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Pittsfield 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% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pittsfield 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% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Pittsfield 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% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest 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 |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% 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 |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% 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 |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Exeter 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% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest 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 | #93 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pittsfield School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Pittsfield High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 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.