Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Exeter | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 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+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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 | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.