Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Dunbarton vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Strafford | Bow | Dunbarton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
8,335Highest |
3,097Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 25% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Dunbarton School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.