Compare towns
Keene vs Stratham vs Seabrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Keene | Stratham | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,754Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$84,349±$15k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
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| 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.