Compare towns
Bow vs Keene vs South Berwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Keene | South Berwick | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
22,939Highest |
7,670Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Keene 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,572±$13k 23% above 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and South Berwick 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Keene High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.