Compare towns
Warner vs Strafford 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
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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.
| Measure | Warner | Strafford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,959Lowest |
4,306 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±4 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Strafford and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Warner and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$22kLowest 12% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,650 15% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Warner 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford 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 | 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.