Compare towns
Stratham vs Bow vs Windham vs Amherst
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Stratham | Bow | Windham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
8,335 |
16,038Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$20kLowest 53% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 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 |
31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bow School District | Windham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Windham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.