Compare towns
Stratham vs Exeter vs Dover vs Windham
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 people working from home (25.3%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Exeter | Dover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Exeter 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham 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±$36k 63% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.7 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.