Compare towns
Bow vs Plainfield vs Rye vs Stratham
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Plainfield | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,611 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Rye 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Plainfield School District | Rye School District | 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 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.