Compare towns
Stratham vs Exeter vs Saco
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,151 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.