Compare towns
Stratham vs North Hampton vs Exeter vs Newmarket
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% 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 | North Hampton | Exeter | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
4,543Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above 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±$106 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.