Compare towns
Eliot vs Stratham vs Portsmouth
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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% 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 | Stratham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
7,754 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Lowest 32% 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. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% 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% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.