Compare towns
Strafford vs Hudson vs Bow
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hudson has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hudson | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
25,557Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Hudson 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% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson 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. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Bow 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | — | #63 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hudson School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.