Compare towns
Salem vs Stratham vs Exeter
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Stratham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
7,754Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.