Compare towns
Stratham vs Rye vs Dover
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
5,611Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Rye 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Rye 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dover 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rye School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.