Compare towns
Bow vs Chichester vs Dunbarton 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 the highest household income ($173k).
Chichester has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Chichester | Dunbarton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,745Lowest |
3,097 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Chichester 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 |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above 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 |
$409,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$7,189Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Chichester 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% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Chichester School District | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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 | 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.