Compare towns
Exeter vs Maynard vs Stow 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%).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Maynard | Stow | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Stow 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Stow 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. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Stow 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,266Lowest 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Stow 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Stratham 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Maynard | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Maynard High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.