Compare towns
Canterbury 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
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Canterbury | Exeter | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233 43% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Canterbury 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional 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 | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.