Compare towns
Stratham vs North Hampton vs Dorchester
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | North Hampton | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
4,543 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and North Hampton 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and North Hampton 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 |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
— |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and North Hampton 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton School District | — |
| High school 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.