Compare towns
Stratham vs Milford vs South Hampton 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 people working from home (25.3%).
Milford has the most renters (35.1% rent).
South Hampton has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Milford | South Hampton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
16,337Highest |
984Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| South Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Bow 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Milford 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 |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham 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 |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Milford 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% |
3.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Milford School District | South Hampton School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.