Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Stratham vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Eliot | Stratham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146Lowest |
7,754 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Durham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.