Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Thetford vs Exeter
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Thetford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
15,080 |
2,813Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%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±6.2 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Durham 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 |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% 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%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below 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% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Thetford 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 → |
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.