Compare towns
Eliot vs Plymouth 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
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Eliot | Plymouth | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
6,601Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above 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 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest 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+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% 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. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.