Compare towns
North Hampton vs Acton 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
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | North Hampton | Acton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
24,155Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kLowest 81% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Acton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Lowest 173% 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 | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.