Compare towns
Stratham vs Dover vs Exeter
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Dover | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
5,930Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.