Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Danvers | Exeter | Stratham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Middleton |
| High school 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.