Compare towns
Stratham vs Strafford 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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.
| Measure | Stratham | Strafford | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
1,372Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 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. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below 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. |
$7,149Lowest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Strafford School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.