Compare towns
Brentwood vs Durham vs Hanover 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
Brentwood has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Brentwood | Durham | Hanover | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
15,080Highest |
11,685 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Brentwood and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Lowest 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 51 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.