Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Brookline vs Newmarket
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Brookline | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
10,681Highest |
5,736Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Brookline 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Brookline School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.