Compare towns
Bow vs Lee vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Lee | Newfields | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,576 |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Newfields and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Stratham 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Bow 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 75% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| 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 26% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| 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 3% above NH |
— | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 | 10 photos → | 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.