Compare towns

Stratham vs Newfields vs Milford 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 most expensive homes ($655k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
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.

MeasureStrathamNewfieldsMilfordExeter
People
Population
7,754
2,023Lowest
16,337Highest
16,151
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
44.1±1.8
about the NH average
36.8±2.5Lowest
15% below NH
45.8±2.3Highest
6% above NH
Exeter and Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Exeter and Stratham 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%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8
NH: 6%
Newfields 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
53% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$97,768±$14kLowest
about the NH average
$110,346±$13k
11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$398,800±$20kLowest
about the NH average
$456,600±$21k
13% above NH
Stratham and Newfields 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
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
$1,661±$126Lowest
11% above NH
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
Stratham and Newfields 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$7,522Lowest
13% above NH
$8,814
32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
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%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.9%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
26 min
4% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
25 minLowest
7% below NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
Newfields 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 — #55 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Newfields School District Milford School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town None in town None in town Milford High School Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7Lowest
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.