Compare towns
Stratham vs Strafford vs Exeter
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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Strafford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
4,306Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Stratham 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Strafford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.