Compare towns
Newton vs Seabrook Beach vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Newton | Seabrook Beach | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Highest |
1,001Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,725±$575Highest 16% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.