Compare towns
Bow vs Rye vs Newington 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 the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Newington has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Rye | Newington | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
5,611 |
939Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Rye and Newington 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Newington 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Newington 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 |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% 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±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$861,600±$46k 114% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,292±$795 54% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newington 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Rye School District | Newington 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.