Compare towns
Exeter vs Nelson vs Stratham vs Surry
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Nelson | Stratham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
648Lowest |
7,754 |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Surry 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter 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% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Exeter 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
| Stratham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nelson 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 | 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.