Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton Falls vs Amherst vs Exeter
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Amherst | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
2,328Lowest |
11,861 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton Falls School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.