Compare towns
Stratham vs Eliot vs Durham
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 people working from home (25.3%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
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 | Eliot | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
7,146Lowest |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.