Compare towns
Stratham vs Marblehead 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 homeowners (92.6%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Marblehead | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
20,413Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead 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% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kLowest 88% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Stratham 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Marblehead | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.