Compare towns
Stratham vs Brighton vs Exeter vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Brighton | Exeter | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,167Lowest |
16,151Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Brighton 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 88% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Brighton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.