Compare towns
Stratham vs Portsmouth vs Brookline
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 most people working from home (25.3%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
22,545Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Stratham 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 |
$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% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.