Compare towns
Stratham vs Sunapee vs Hampton
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
3,416Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
| 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest 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 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Sunapee School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.