Compare towns
Stratham vs Dover vs Plainfield vs Exeter
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter 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%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Plainfield 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±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.