Compare towns
Exeter vs Thomaston vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Thomaston | Newfields | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,769 |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Thomaston 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$271,700±$10kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% 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. |
$1,262±$343Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% 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. |
$4,487Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Thomaston 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% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 13 | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.