Compare towns
Exeter vs Reading vs Strafford
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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Exeter 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford 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 History | 59 photos → | 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.