Compare towns
Exeter vs Stratham vs Wakefield
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%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wakefield 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Wakefield 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wakefield 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.