Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Newfields vs Stratham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureMount DesertNewfieldsStratham
People
Population
1,671Lowest
2,023
7,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2Highest
41% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Mount Desert and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,813±$9kLowest
15% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66kLowest
57% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512Lowest
13% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.1%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — — #43 of 120 in NH
School district Mount Desert Public Schools Newfields School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.