Compare towns

Stratham vs Somersworth vs Kittery

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 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.

MeasureStrathamSomersworthKittery
People
Population
7,754Lowest
12,111Highest
10,473
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
38.4±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
Kittery and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±4
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
14%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery 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
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Somersworth and Kittery 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
88% above U.S.
$74,504±$13kLowest
8% below U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$318,400±$23kLowest
4% below U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,477±$134Lowest
5% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$6,805
118% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.3%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Kittery 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 #117 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Somersworth School District Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town Somersworth High School Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.