Compare towns
Bow vs Mason vs Strafford
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Mason | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,451Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Mason 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Mason School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.