Compare towns
Exeter vs Stratham vs Windham vs Newmarket
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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Windham | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,754Lowest |
16,038 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham 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%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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±$20k 53% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Windham High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 12.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.