Compare towns
Eliot vs Stratham vs Auburn vs Rockport
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 most renters (20.2% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Stratham | Auburn | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
7,754Highest |
6,119 |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Rockport 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Rockport 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Stratham 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. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Auburn 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. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.