Compare towns

Stratham vs Newmarket 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).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% 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.

MeasureStrathamNewmarketExeter
People
Population
7,754Lowest
9,463
16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
41.2±1.9Lowest
5% below NH
45.8±2.3Highest
6% above NH
Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
Stratham and Exeter 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%
16.1%±2.8Lowest
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%
49.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
Exeter and Newmarket 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
$100,845±$13kLowest
about the NH average
$110,346±$13k
11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$455,000±$22kLowest
13% above NH
$456,600±$21k
13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,671±$69Lowest
12% above NH
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$8,734Lowest
31% above NH
$8,814
32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3Lowest
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%
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
28 minHighest
6% above NH
25 minLowest
7% below NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
Stratham and Exeter 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 #39 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Newmarket School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town None in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9Lowest
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.