Compare towns
Stratham vs Franconia 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).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Franconia | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,060Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Franconia 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 |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below 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 |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Stratham and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.