Compare towns
Strafford vs Pelham vs Bow vs Cornwall
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 most affordable homes ($431k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Pelham | Bow | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
14,449Highest |
8,335 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bow and Pelham 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Cornwall 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Pelham School District | Bow School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.