Compare towns
Fairfield vs Stratham vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Fairfield | Stratham | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
7,754Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.