Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Acton | Bow | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Bow 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.