Compare towns
Hope vs Stratham vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Hope | Stratham | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
7,754Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Readfield 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.