Compare towns
Sharon vs Stratham vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sharon | Stratham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
7,754Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Strafford 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 | Sharon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Strafford 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 |
U.S. 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.