Compare towns
Stratham vs Canaan vs Orford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Canaan | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
3,811 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford and Canaan 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% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Orford 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.