Compare towns
Bow vs Dudley vs Ware 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%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Dudley | Ware | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% 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. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Stratham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 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 |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.