Compare towns
Exeter vs Bow vs Durham vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Exeter | Bow | Durham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,335 |
15,080 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 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+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% 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 | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.