Compare towns
Gilmanton 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
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Gilmanton | Strafford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
4,306 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest 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 | $117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235 6% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Strafford School District | Bow School District |
| High school 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 |
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.