Compare towns
Milford vs Stratham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Milford | Stratham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
7,754Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
| Rochester and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.