Compare towns
Bow vs Bennington vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Bennington | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,588Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Bennington and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| 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 75% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| 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 26% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.