Compare towns

Bow vs Gorham vs Newfields 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 most kids (25% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.

MeasureBowGorhamNewfieldsStratham
People
Population
8,335
18,300Highest
2,023Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
Newfields 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%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
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%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
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%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
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%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kLowest
39% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
Newfields and Bow 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.
$460,900±$26kLowest
39% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Stratham and Newfields 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.
$4,825Lowest
55% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Newfields 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%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Stratham 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 #24 of 133 in ME — #43 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Gorham Public Schools Newfields School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Bow High School Gorham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
12.9Highest
— —
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.