Compare towns
Stratham vs Henniker vs Brookline 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
6,197 |
5,736Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Henniker School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.