Compare towns
Stratham vs Dover vs Holderness vs Amherst
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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Dover | Holderness | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
33,364Highest |
1,917Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 53% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| 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 63% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Stratham and Holderness 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dover School District | Holderness School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.