Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyndeborough vs Berwick 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%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
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 | Lyndeborough | Berwick | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,616Lowest |
8,175 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Exeter 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Berwick 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% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%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% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Berwick 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | 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 | 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.