Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton Falls vs Plainville
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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
2,328Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Plainville 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Plainville 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 88% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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 97% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Plainville 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Plainville 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton Falls School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | None 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.