Compare towns
Stratham vs Orford vs Hampton Falls vs Amherst
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Orford | Hampton Falls | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,295Lowest |
2,328 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Hampton Falls 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% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford 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±$20k 53% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst 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 |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Orford 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% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | — | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Hampton Falls School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.