Compare towns
Stratham vs Bow vs Plaistow
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%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Stratham and Bow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Bow 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 NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Stratham 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 |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% 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 |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.