Compare towns
Stratham vs Townsend vs Auburn vs Amherst
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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Townsend | Auburn | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
9,100 |
6,119Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Auburn 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn 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±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Amherst 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Auburn 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex | Auburn School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.