Compare towns

Strafford vs Weare vs Raymond

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 most expensive homes ($428k median).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+30.9%).

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.

MeasureStraffordWeareRaymond
People
Population
4,306
9,170Highest
3,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+3.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+30.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
46.3±2.1
7% above NH
45.6±4Lowest
5% above NH
47.7±13.3Highest
10% above NH
Raymond 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
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.6%±7.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Weare 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
NH: 20.1%
13.5%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
25.2%±6.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Raymond 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%
NH: 40.6%
41.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
24.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
4.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
6.9%±4.2Highest
NH: 6%
Raymond 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±$22kHighest
23% above NH
$118,271±$17k
19% above NH
$73,066±$8kLowest
26% below NH
Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$427,900±$29kHighest
6% above NH
$396,300±$26k
about the NH average
$314,900±$34kLowest
22% below NH
Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,635±$246Highest
10% above NH
$1,541±$214
3% above NH
$994±$450Lowest
33% below NH
Strafford and Weare 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
$6,272Highest
6% below NH
$5,113Lowest
23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.3%±30.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
62.2%±24.6
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±13.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Strafford and Weare 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
34% above NH
36 min
34% above NH
31 minLowest
14% above NH
Work from home
15.9%±5
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.8%±5.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Weare 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 #84 of 120 in NH #96 of 120 in NH
School district Strafford School District John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District —
High school in town None in town John Stark Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.