Compare towns
Stratham vs South Hooksett vs Lee 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).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | South Hooksett | Lee | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
5,902 |
4,576Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lee 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% 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 |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
— | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.