Compare towns
Strafford vs Nottingham vs Eliot
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).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Nottingham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
5,357 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham 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. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham and Eliot 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Strafford School District | Nottingham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.