Compare towns
Cornwall vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Cornwall | Exeter | Stratham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.