Compare towns
Stratham vs Surry vs Townsend
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 people working from home (25.3%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,052Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Surry and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Townsend 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Townsend 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 88% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Townsend 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. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 214% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.