Compare towns
Dummerston vs Exeter vs Middlesex 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
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Dummerston | Exeter | Middlesex | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
16,151Highest |
1,943Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest 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 | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 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 | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 Our Story | 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.