Compare towns
Stratham vs Hollis vs Hampstead
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).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
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 | Hollis | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
8,603 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Hollis and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Hampstead 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% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead 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 |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.