Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Gilmanton
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 oldest population (median age 46.3).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
8,335Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% 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 | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 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 | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest 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 | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| 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.