Compare towns
Exeter vs Rye vs Sidney vs Stratham
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Sidney | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,611 |
4,790Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Sidney 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | RSU 18 | 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 |
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.