Compare towns
Durham vs Stratham vs Sutton vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Stratham | Sutton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,754 |
2,239Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Sutton 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Stratham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Stratham and Sutton 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 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.