Compare towns
Strafford vs Bow vs Stratham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Stratham 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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 | $110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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.