Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Williston 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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Williston | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939Highest |
10,144 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Williston 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Williston 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| 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.