Compare towns
Stratham vs Auburn vs Strafford
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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
6,119 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Strafford 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Strafford 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±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% 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 |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% 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 | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District | Strafford 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 |
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.