Compare towns
Stratham vs Rye vs Brookline vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Rye | Brookline | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
5,611Lowest |
5,736 |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Brookline 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$137,477±$21kLowest 39% 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$506,900±$54kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rye School District | Brookline School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.