Compare towns
Cushing vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 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 | Cushing | Exeter | Stratham | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
2,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Thomaston and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,500±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,800±$44k 23% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$271,700±$10kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376 10% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,262±$343Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,487 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 13 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 13 |
| 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 → | 6 photos → | 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.