Compare towns

Strafford vs Everett vs Newton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

MeasureStraffordEverettNewton
People
Population
4,306Lowest
50,045Highest
4,836
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
47.8±5.7Highest
23% above U.S.
Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Everett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Everett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,105±$22k
51% above U.S.
$85,218±$7kLowest
6% above U.S.
$138,487±$29kHighest
72% above U.S.
Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$427,900±$29kLowest
29% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$459,500±$18k
38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,635±$246Lowest
16% above U.S.
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,683±$96
19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,086
95% above U.S.
$4,880Lowest
56% above U.S.
$8,124Highest
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±41.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
35 min
33% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newton 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 #73 of 120 in NH #264 of 282 in MA #70 of 120 in NH
School district Strafford School District Everett Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town None in town Everett High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
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.