Compare towns

Hampton vs Stratham vs New Castle

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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.

MeasureHamptonStrathamNew Castle
People
Population
10,101Highest
7,754
827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
41.6±4.9Lowest
4% below NH
62.8±6Highest
45% above NH
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.9%±7.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
New Castle and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
68.8%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
0.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,163±$4kLowest
about the NH average
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$176,953±$29kHighest
79% above NH
New Castle and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63kLowest
35% above NH
$655,400±$36k
63% above NH
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
323% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93Lowest
11% above NH
$2,511±$377
68% above NH
$3,501Highest
135% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872Lowest
3% above NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$8,509
28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±85.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
93%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
40.1%±19.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
New Castle and Stratham 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 #31 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH —
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District New Castle School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.