Compare towns

Hampton vs Stratham vs Pelham

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 oldest population (median age 51.2).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureHamptonStrathamPelham
People
Population
10,101
7,754Lowest
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+10.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7Highest
18% above NH
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
41.5±2.7Lowest
4% below NH
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.7
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+
26.9%±3.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
5.9%±1.3Highest
NH: 6%
Pelham and Stratham 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±$20kHighest
53% above NH
$135,956±$19k
37% 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
$545,300±$63kLowest
35% above NH
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$552,600±$27k
37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93
11% above NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,425±$88Lowest
4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872Lowest
3% above NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$8,634
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2
NH: 48.2%
67.3%±12.5Highest
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
4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
same as NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
30 minHighest
10% above NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±3.3
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 #31 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Pelham School District
High school in town — None in town Pelham High School
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.