Compare towns

Stratham vs Newfields vs Kittery 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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.

MeasureStrathamNewfieldsKitteryBow
People
Population
7,754
2,023Lowest
10,473Highest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kittery and Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
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%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
Newfields 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±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
Stratham and Newfields 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — #17 of 133 in ME #26 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Newfields School District Kittery Public Schools Bow School District
High school in town None in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy 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.