Compare towns
Eliot vs North Hampton vs Stratham vs Dover
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Eliot | North Hampton | Stratham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,543Lowest |
7,754 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.