Compare towns
Weare vs Bow vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Weare | Bow | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
8,335 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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 | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Bow School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.