Compare towns

Newfields vs Townsend vs Durham 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

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

MeasureNewfieldsTownsendDurhamStratham
People
Population
2,023Lowest
9,100
10,681Highest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
$112,070±$25kLowest
39% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$498,000±$45k
50% 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
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,302±$211Lowest
8% below 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% 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
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±19.2
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3
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 — #136 of 282 in MA #9 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District North Middlesex — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.