Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Farmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,335Highest |
6,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
| Farmington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Farmington 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% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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 | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$289,200±$47kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9Lowest 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 | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Farmington Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.