Compare towns
Bow vs Stratham vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
7,754 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% 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±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bow 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.