Compare towns

Bow vs Barnet 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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.

MeasureBowBarnetStratham
People
Population
8,335Highest
1,855Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
47.7±5.3Highest
23% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
Barnet and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.9Lowest
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+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.9Lowest
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
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below 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
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$247,900±$24kLowest
25% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$974±$72Lowest
31% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$4,489Lowest
44% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.3%±29.9
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±4.5Lowest
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 #26 of 120 in NH — #43 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
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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.