Compare towns
Exeter vs Worcester vs Everett 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 oldest population (median age 45.8).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Worcester | Everett | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
207,055Highest |
50,045 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Everett 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Everett 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. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Everett 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. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | South High Community | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.