Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Rye 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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Rye | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
15,080 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.