Compare towns
Stratham vs Dover vs Pelham vs Bow
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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dover | Pelham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,449 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Pelham 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Pelham 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Stratham 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Pelham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dover School District | Pelham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.