Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Stratham vs Portsmouth
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Exeter | Keene | Stratham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939Highest |
7,754Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.