Compare towns
Roxbury vs Stratham vs Surry vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Roxbury | Stratham | Surry | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,052 |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Surry and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Roxbury and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Stratham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219kLowest 20% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Stratham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 13% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.