Compare towns
Chatham vs Stratham vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Chatham | Stratham | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
7,754Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
| Stratham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Jackson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,750±$1kLowest 17% above NH |
| Stratham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Jackson 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 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.