Compare towns
Exeter vs Sutton vs Thompson vs Stratham
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 most renters (30.9% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Sutton | Thompson | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,452 |
9,337 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | Thompson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.