Compare towns
Stratham vs Cornwall vs Exeter vs Amherst
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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Cornwall | Exeter | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,208Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst 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 97% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.