Compare towns

Stratham vs Keene vs Norwich vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureStrathamKeeneNorwichBrookline
People
Population
7,754
22,939Highest
3,640Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
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
97% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$2,500±$1k
77% above U.S.
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
214% above U.S.
$6,812Lowest
118% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #81 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT #23 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Keene School District Norwich School District Brookline School District
High school in town None in town Keene High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.