Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham vs Madbury 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 20.8).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Madbury | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.