Compare towns
Stratham vs Townsend vs Hampstead
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).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
9,100 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| 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.