Compare towns
Newmarket vs Durham vs Hampton Falls 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
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Newmarket | Durham | Hampton Falls | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
10,681Highest |
2,328Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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 | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | — | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.