Compare towns
Stratham vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Stratham | Berlin | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
3,378Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Stratham 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% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Berlin 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. |
$121,336±$12kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% 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 | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933 71% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,116Lowest 128% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Berlin 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Berlin-Boylston | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.