Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Derry | Exeter | Stratham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.