Compare towns
North Hampton 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
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Wells | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,754 |
| 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 | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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 81% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 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 | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.