Compare towns
Exeter vs Bow vs Thurman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
8,335Highest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Thurman 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 | — |
| School district | — | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.

