Compare towns
Exeter vs White River Junction vs Brentwood 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%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | White River Junction | Brentwood | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,364Lowest |
4,641 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Brentwood 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 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$528,100±$75k 59% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,217±$654 57% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,713 211% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Brentwood School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.