Compare towns

Stratham vs Gorham vs Exeter vs North Hampton

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).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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.

MeasureStrathamGorhamExeterNorth Hampton
People
Population
7,754
18,300Highest
16,151
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Highest
30% above U.S.
North Hampton and Exeter 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%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Gorham 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%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Hampton and Exeter 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%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
$146,458±$29k
81% above U.S.
Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$670,400±$61kHighest
102% above U.S.
North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,680±$355Lowest
19% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,805±$106
28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,825Lowest
55% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$8,529
173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Hampton and Stratham 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 #24 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Gorham Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District North Hampton School District
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
12.1Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet 59 photos → 5 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.