Compare towns
Stratham vs Amesbury vs Amherst 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
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Stratham | Amesbury | Amherst | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
17,403Highest |
11,861 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Amesbury | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
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.