Compare towns
Plaistow vs Durham vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Durham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
15,080Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Durham 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.