Compare towns
Bow vs Gilmanton vs Strafford vs Dunbarton
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Gilmanton | Strafford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,026 |
4,306 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 |
$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 23% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Gilmanton School District | Strafford School District | Dunbarton 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.