Compare towns
Bow vs Milton 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%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Milton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
28,587Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kLowest 88% above U.S. |
| Milton 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±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Milton 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.