Compare towns
Hampstead vs Pelham 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
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hampstead | Pelham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
14,449Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Hampstead and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Pelham 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.