Compare towns
Bow vs Greenland vs Portsmouth 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 most affordable homes ($507k median).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Greenland | Portsmouth | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
4,106Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.4±7.7Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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% |
19.8%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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% |
59.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Stratham 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 |
$162,837±$11k 64% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Bow and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$662,800±$42k 65% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,331±$363 56% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Greenland 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 |
$7,420Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Stratham 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% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Greenland 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 | #10 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Greenland School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.