Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Plaistow | Hampton Falls | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
2,328Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% 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 min 7% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.