Compare towns

Stratton vs Bow vs Wardsboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).

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.

MeasureStrattonBowWardsboro
People
Population
532Lowest
8,335Highest
820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.5±4.1Lowest
19% below U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
51.6±7.3Highest
33% above U.S.
Kids under 18
28%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.7%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,708±$33k
52% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$62,000±$6kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$400,000±$50k
20% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$299,300±$47kLowest
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$979Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,479±$224
5% above U.S.
Bow and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,750
52% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,345Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±69.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
54.5%±58Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wardsboro and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
3.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Wardsboro 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 — #26 of 120 in NH —
School district — Bow School District River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town — Bow High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
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.