Compare towns
Brookline vs Cornish 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
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Cornish | Exeter | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,816Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest 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 | 0.6%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 | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Cornish 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 | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.