Compare towns
Durham vs Newfields vs Stowe 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Stowe | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,285 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Stowe Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.