Compare towns

Bow vs White River Junction vs Concord 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 the highest household income ($173k).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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.

MeasureBowWhite River JunctionConcordStratham
People
Population
8,335
3,364Lowest
44,375Highest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
40.7±1.3
5% above U.S.
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%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Concord 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%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Concord and Bow 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.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$84,902±$5k
5% 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.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$350,900±$13k
5% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,441±$43
about the U.S. average
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$7,227
132% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±5.2
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Concord 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
56.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 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
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #89 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District — Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Bow High School — Concord High School 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.