Compare towns
Exeter vs Strafford vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Strafford | Newfields | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,023 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% 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. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above 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. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 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 |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District | Newfields 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 |
— | — | — |
| 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.