Compare towns
Stratham vs Stowe vs Exeter vs Brookline
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 most people working from home (25.3%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Stowe | Exeter | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
5,285Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter 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% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 88% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Stowe Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.