Compare towns
Strafford vs Stratham vs Thetford
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).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Stratham | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
7,754Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Thetford 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Thetford School District |
| 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.