Compare towns

Durham vs Stratham vs Norwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% 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.

MeasureDurhamStrathamNorwich
People
Population
10,681Highest
7,754
3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25kLowest
39% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,000±$45kLowest
50% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211Lowest
8% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781Lowest
214% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Norwich 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 #43 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Norwich School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.