Compare towns
Bow vs Everett vs Worcester 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 the highest household income ($173k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Everett | Worcester | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
50,045 |
207,055Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Bow 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% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% 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. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Everett 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 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 |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Everett High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.