Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Stratham vs Strafford vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dunbarton | Stratham | Strafford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
7,754 |
4,306 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above 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 | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Strafford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.