Compare towns
Stratham vs Eliot vs Bow vs Exeter
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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Eliot | Bow | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
7,146Lowest |
8,335 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bow 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.