Compare towns

Bow vs Ogunquit vs Pelham 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 highest household income ($173k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBowOgunquitPelhamStratham
People
Population
8,335
1,379Lowest
14,449Highest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%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%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham 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±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
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±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
—
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Stratham 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 — #48 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District — Pelham School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Bow High School — Pelham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
10.4Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.