Compare towns
Stratham vs Newton vs Nelson
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).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
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 | Newton | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
4,836 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Newton and Nelson 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newton 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 |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Stratham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.