Compare towns
Exeter vs Rye vs Auburn 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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Rye | Auburn | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,611Lowest |
6,119 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Auburn 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Auburn 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | Auburn 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 |
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| 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.