Compare towns
Stratham vs Surry vs Nelson 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).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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 | Nelson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,052 |
648Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stratham 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter 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% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Exeter 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Nelson 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 | 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.