Compare towns
Dorset vs Salem vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Dorset | Salem | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
30,964Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.