Compare towns
Nottingham vs Bow vs Exeter vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Nottingham | Bow | Exeter | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
8,335 |
16,151Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.