Compare towns
Stratham vs Kennebunk vs Brookline 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Kennebunk | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
11,820 |
5,736Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 88% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% 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. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% 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. |
$4,999Lowest 60% 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% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 21 | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.