Compare towns
South Hampton vs Stratham 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
South Hampton has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
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 | South Hampton | Stratham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
7,754 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 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+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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 | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20kLowest 53% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.