Compare towns
Newfields vs Plaistow vs Durham vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newfields | Plaistow | Durham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
7,861 |
10,681Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Newfields and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.