Compare towns
Concord vs Strafford vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Concord | Strafford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
1,372Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 132% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Strafford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.