Compare towns
Stratham vs Norwich vs Exeter vs North Hampton
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 highest household income ($152k).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Exeter | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
3,640Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwich 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% 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. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% 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. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,529Lowest 173% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.