Compare towns
Stratham vs Keene vs Norwich vs Exeter
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 homeowners (92.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Keene | Norwich | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
22,939Highest |
3,640Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% 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% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% 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%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below 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% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Norwich 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Keene School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.