Compare towns
Dummerston vs Strafford vs Bow vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | Dummerston | Strafford | Bow | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,372Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 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+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.