Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter vs Stratham 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Stratham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
16,151Highest |
7,754Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.