Compare towns
Henniker vs Stratham vs Bow vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Stratham | Bow | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
7,754 |
8,335 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 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+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% 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 | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Weare 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bow School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.