Compare towns
Stratham vs North Hampton vs Kennebunk
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).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($488k 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 | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
4,543Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Kennebunk 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 88% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 78% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Kennebunk 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% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and North Hampton 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 | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.