Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton vs Kensington
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).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
16,426Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Kensington 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington 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 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Kensington 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 68% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Stratham and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.