Compare towns
Strafford vs Exeter vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Exeter | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.