Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Wilder 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Wilder | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
15,080Highest |
3,087Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below 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±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.