Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Kittery 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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Hampton Falls | Kittery | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328Lowest |
10,473 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham 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. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Kittery Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.