Compare towns
Stratham vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Jackson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
897Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Exeter 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% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$1,750±$1kLowest 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Jackson 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Jackson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school 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 | 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.