Compare towns
Stratham vs Milford vs Portsmouth vs Exeter
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).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Milford | Portsmouth | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,337 |
22,545Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Milford 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 |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.