Compare towns
North Hampton vs Dover vs Stratham vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Dover | Stratham | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,754 |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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±$29k 48% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.