Compare towns
Calais vs Stratham vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Stratham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.