Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham 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
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Amherst | Durham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
10,681 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.