Compare towns
Exeter vs Boxford vs Newfields 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Exeter | Boxford | Newfields | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,208 |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #34 of 282 in MA | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Boxford · Masconomet | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 7 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.