Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Barnstead 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Barnstead | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
4,994 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Barnstead 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Barnstead School District | 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 |
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.