Compare towns
Appleton vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Appleton | Exeter | Stratham | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.