Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter 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
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Salem | Exeter | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.