Compare towns
Stratham vs Newfields vs Wells vs Exeter
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 most kids (23.5% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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.
| Measure | Stratham | Newfields | Wells | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
2,023Lowest |
11,713 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 88% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| 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 78% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Newfields School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.