Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Stratham vs Wells
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Stratham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.