Compare towns
Stratham vs Sunapee vs Amherst
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).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Sunapee | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
3,416Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Stratham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Sunapee School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.