Compare towns
Bow vs Strafford vs Goffstown
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Strafford | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
4,306Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Strafford School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.