Compare towns

Stratham vs Auburn vs Brookline vs Newmarket

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).

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.

MeasureStrathamAuburnBrooklineNewmarket
People
Population
7,754
6,119
5,736Lowest
9,463Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+13%
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
44.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
41.2±1.9Lowest
5% below NH
Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3
NH: 18.2%
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
Stratham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
55.3%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
49.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
7.2%±4.7Highest
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$153,253±$6k
55% above NH
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
$100,845±$13kLowest
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$600,300±$29k
49% above NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
$455,000±$22kLowest
13% above NH
Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,893±$822
27% above NH
$2,500±$1k
68% above NH
$1,671±$69Lowest
12% above NH
Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781
47% above NH
$8,092Lowest
21% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,734
31% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±27
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
2.5%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1983Lowest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
28 min
4% above NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
28 min
6% above NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Stratham 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 #44 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH #39 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Auburn School District Brookline School District Newmarket School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.