Compare towns
Bow vs Madbury vs Stratham vs Pembroke
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 highest household income ($173k).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Madbury | Stratham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,203Lowest |
7,754 |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury 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 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| 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 26% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Stratham and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Pembroke 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| 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.