Compare towns
Exeter vs Upton vs Whitman 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Upton | Whitman | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,189 |
15,295 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Whitman 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Upton 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±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Whitman 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% |
3.2% 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% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% 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. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.