Compare towns
Exeter vs Chester vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Chester | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,300Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Chester 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Chester 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 11% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Chester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.