Compare towns
Amherst vs Bow vs Ogunquit 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
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Amherst | Bow | Ogunquit | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,335 |
1,379Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.