Compare towns
Stratham vs Surry vs Chatham
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).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
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 | Surry | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
1,052 |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
| Chatham and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham and Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Chatham 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 |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
| Stratham and Surry 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,955±$374Lowest 31% above NH |
— |
| Stratham and Surry 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Surry 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% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Surry 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.