Compare towns
Stratham vs Canton 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 homeowners (92.6%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Canton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
24,748Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Canton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Canton 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% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Canton 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. |
$143,381±$9kLowest 78% 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±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Canton and Stratham 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. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Canton 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. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Canton 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.