Compare towns
Stratham vs Portsmouth vs Auburn vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Portsmouth | Auburn | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
22,545Highest |
6,119Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$600,300±$29kLowest 49% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District | Auburn School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.