Compare towns
Bow vs Pembroke vs Stratham vs Suncook
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%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% 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.
| Measure | Bow | Pembroke | Stratham | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
7,438 |
7,754 |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% 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%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3 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% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% 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 |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Pembroke School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town | — |
| 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.