Compare towns
Brookline vs Saco 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Saco | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Saco 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 112% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Saco Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.