Compare towns
Strafford vs Exeter vs Tunbridge
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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
16,151Highest |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,645Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.


