Compare towns
Sandown vs Stratham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the most affordable homes ($483k median).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Sandown | Stratham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628 |
7,754Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Sandown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kLowest 36% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Stratham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44kLowest 20% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— |
| Stratham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.