Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton vs Exeter vs Amherst
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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Hampton | Exeter | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,426Highest |
16,151 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.