Compare towns
Stratham vs Bow vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Bow | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
8,335Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Bow 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 53% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| 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 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bow School District | Barnstead 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 |
NH 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.