Compare towns

Stratham vs Springfield 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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.

MeasureStrathamSpringfieldBrookline
People
Population
7,754Highest
1,122Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
51.4±8.8Highest
19% above NH
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
Springfield 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%
15.1%±8Lowest
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%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Stratham and Springfield 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%
36.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
0%±1.5Lowest
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
$100,893±$19kLowest
about the NH average
$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±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$384,100±$50kLowest
5% below NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,096±$217Lowest
26% below 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
$5,946Lowest
11% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
25.9%±64.8
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Springfield 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%
3.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
90.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
34 minHighest
29% above NH
33 min
25% above NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
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 — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District — Brookline School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.