Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Middlesex | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
1,943Lowest |
4,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Newton 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 16% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.