Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Dummerston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroExeterStrathamDummerston
People
Population
12,122
16,151Highest
7,754
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
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
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 #33 of 70 in VT #22 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School Exeter High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
12.1Highest
— —
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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.