Compare towns
Exeter vs Madison 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%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k 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 | Madison | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,680Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Madison 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,556±$256Lowest 4% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Stratham 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Madison 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.