Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,335 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 95% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.