Compare towns
South Hampton vs Stratham vs Keene vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | South Hampton | Stratham | Keene | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
7,754 |
22,939Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Newton 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Keene School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.