Compare towns
Bow vs Newfields vs Saco 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 the most kids (25% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Newfields | Saco | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
2,023Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Saco 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| 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±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Saco 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Newfields School District | Saco Public Schools | 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 History | None yet | 7 photos → | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.