Compare towns
Bow vs Strafford vs Newton
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 most affordable homes ($428k median).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,306Lowest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Bow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Bow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford 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 |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Newton 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Strafford School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | 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 |
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.