Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Brentwood
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 20.8).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
15,080Highest |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Brentwood 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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 |
$9,713Lowest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 6 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.