Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Pelham
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 51.4).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
8,335 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.