Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Northwood
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 the most kids (25% under 18).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Northwood 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Northwood 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Strafford 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest 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 |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Bow 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% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.