Compare towns

Stratham vs Thetford vs Windham vs Brookline

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%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureStrathamThetfordWindhamBrookline
People
Population
7,754
2,813Lowest
16,038Highest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
43.6±6.2Highest
12% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
Thetford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Brookline 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%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thetford 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%
68%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%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%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Thetford and Brookline 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$171,046±$4k
112% above U.S.
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$329,500±$96kLowest
about the U.S. average
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,500±$1k
77% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781
214% above U.S.
$6,948Lowest
123% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Brookline 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 #13 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Thetford School District Windham School District Brookline School District
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.