Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton vs Exeter 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hampton | Exeter | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
10,101 |
16,151Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| 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 53% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% 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 |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.