Compare towns
Stratham vs Mason vs Exeter vs North Hampton
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Exeter | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,451Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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 NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 53% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
| Mason and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Mason School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.