Compare towns
Bow vs Stratham vs Sullivan vs Pembroke
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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Stratham | Sullivan | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
7,754 |
687Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Sullivan and Pembroke 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Pembroke 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Bow 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| 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.