Compare towns
Nelson vs Newfields vs Stratham vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Nelson | Newfields | Stratham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,023 |
7,754Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Surry and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
| Stratham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Newfields 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 | Nelson School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.