Compare towns
Bow vs South Berwick vs Rollinsford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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 | South Berwick | Rollinsford | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
7,670 |
2,626Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Rollinsford 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% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and South Berwick 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. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% 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±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Rollinsford 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and South Berwick 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #94 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rollinsford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.