Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Barnstead | Exeter | Stratham | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Stratham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.