Compare towns
Stratham vs Hollis vs New Castle
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
8,603Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hollis 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%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kLowest 53% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kLowest 63% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hollis 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% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Hollis 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | New Castle 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.