Compare towns
Atkinson vs Epping 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
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Atkinson | Epping | Exeter | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
7,430 |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Epping 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping 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 | Epping High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.