Compare towns
Newington vs Stratham vs Auburn vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Newington | Stratham | Auburn | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
7,754 |
6,119 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Newington and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795 54% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.