Compare towns
Exeter vs Stratham vs Thornton
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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Stratham | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,754 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Exeter 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Thornton 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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 |
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.