Compare towns
Stratham vs Kittery vs Brookline 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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Kittery | Brookline | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
10,473Highest |
5,736Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Bow 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bow and Brookline 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. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 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 |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #23 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Kittery Public Schools | Brookline School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.