Compare towns
Exeter vs Stratham vs Worcester
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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest 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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| 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.