Compare towns
Exeter vs Windham vs Seabrook vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Windham | Seabrook | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
16,038 |
8,427 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Windham 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 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,542±$174Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #114 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Seabrook School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.