Compare towns
Exeter vs Stratham vs Wayne vs Newfields
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Wayne | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,754 |
1,101Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Wayne 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% 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. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Newfields 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 38 | Newfields 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 History | 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.