Compare towns
Pembroke vs Exeter vs Walpole 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
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Pembroke | Exeter | Walpole | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
16,151Highest |
3,690Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Walpole and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 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 | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% 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 | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% 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 | $7,589 14% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.