Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Stratham vs Windham 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 people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the most renters (12.5% rent).
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 | Windham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
7,754 |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest 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 | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 15% 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% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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.