Compare towns
Chatham vs Stratham vs Surry
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 renters (17.2% rent).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 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 | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Chatham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest 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%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Chatham 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 |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,955±$374Lowest 31% above NH |
| Stratham and Surry 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Surry 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 | — |
| High school 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.