Compare towns

Barnard vs Exeter vs Stratham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureBarnardExeterStratham
People
Population
1,211Lowest
16,151Highest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
Exeter and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19kLowest
21% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kLowest
21% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Lowest
94% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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

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.