Compare towns

Stratham vs Kennebunk vs Newmarket

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 highest household income ($152k).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% 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.

MeasureStrathamKennebunkNewmarket
People
Population
7,754Lowest
11,820Highest
9,463
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
41.2±1.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Kennebunk 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%
16.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.7%Lowest
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%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newmarket 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
88% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
$100,845±$13kLowest
25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
$455,000±$22kLowest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,671±$69
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
$8,734
180% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Newmarket 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%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.3%±3.3Lowest
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 #39 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District RSU 21 Newmarket School District
High school in town None in town Kennebunk High School Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.