Compare towns
Stratham vs Mason vs Durham
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 highest household income ($152k).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mason | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,451Lowest |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Mason 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 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Mason and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Stratham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Mason 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 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.