Compare towns

Acworth vs Exeter vs Stratham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acworth has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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.

MeasureAcworthExeterStratham
People
Population
851Lowest
16,151Highest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
47.3±14.5Highest
9% above NH
45.8±2.3
6% above NH
41.6±4.9Lowest
4% below NH
Acworth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.9%±16.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3
NH: 18.2%
Acworth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24%±9.8
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Exeter and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4.2
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Exeter and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,917±$5kLowest
16% below NH
$110,346±$13k
11% above NH
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,000±$34kLowest
32% below NH
$456,600±$21k
13% above NH
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,352±$291Lowest
9% below NH
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,695Lowest
30% below NH
$8,814
32% above NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
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
9.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
16 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
30% above NH
25 minLowest
7% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
7.1%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
Stratham and Exeter 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 — #22 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → 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.