Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton vs Hudson 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 most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
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 | Hudson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,426 |
25,557Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Exeter 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 53% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hudson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Alvirne High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.6 |
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.