Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Exeter vs Hampstead vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Dunbarton | Exeter | Hampstead | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest 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 | 3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | 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 |
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.