Compare towns
Bow vs Epping vs Atkinson 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Epping | Atkinson | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
7,430 |
7,267Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±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%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Epping 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Bow 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% 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 |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.