Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Newton
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 affordable homes ($428k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest 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% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest 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±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Bow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Bow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford 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 |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Newton 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Sanborn Regional 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.