Compare towns
Stratham vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Topsham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
9,706Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.