Compare towns
Stratham vs Norwich vs Dorchester
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 people working from home (25.3%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 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 | Norwich | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
3,640 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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 88% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
— |
| Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Norwich 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Norwich 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 |
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.