Compare towns
Stratham vs Auburn vs Durham vs Exeter
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stratham | Auburn | Durham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
6,119Lowest |
15,080 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 59 photos → |
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.