Compare towns
Exeter vs Portsmouth vs Stratham vs Newfields
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Portsmouth | Stratham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,545Highest |
7,754 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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 NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 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 |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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 |
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.