Compare towns
Stratham vs Thetford vs Amherst vs Exeter
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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Thetford | Amherst | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
2,813Lowest |
11,861 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Exeter 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Thetford School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.