Compare towns

Norwich vs Durham 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

Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureNorwichDurhamStratham
People
Population
3,640Lowest
15,080Highest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$504,300±$41kLowest
52% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781Lowest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #9 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Norwich School District Oyster River Coop School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.