Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Thetford vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Thetford | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
15,080Highest |
2,813Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Thetford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Thetford School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.