Compare towns
Stratham vs Thornton vs Sutton vs Newfields
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Sutton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Thornton | Sutton | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
2,799 |
2,239 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Thornton and Sutton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Sutton 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 53% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Newfields 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Thornton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.