Compare towns

Sheldon vs Stratham vs Highgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).

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.

MeasureSheldonStrathamHighgate
People
Population
2,267Lowest
7,754Highest
3,528
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
44±7.4Highest
13% above U.S.
Highgate and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Highgate and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Stratham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$81,017±$14k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$61kLowest
18% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$280,500±$21k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379
9% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$895±$691Lowest
37% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$3,558Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.5%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Highgate 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 #43 of 70 in VT
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town None in town None in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.