Compare towns

Newmarket vs Wells 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

Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).

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.

MeasureNewmarketWellsStratham
People
Population
9,463
11,713Highest
7,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newmarket and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,845±$13k
25% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22kLowest
37% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
18% above U.S.
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734
180% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.3%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Wells 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 #22 of 133 in ME #43 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School Wells High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
11.4Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

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.