Compare towns
Stratham vs Townsend vs North Hampton 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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Townsend | North Hampton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
9,100 |
4,543Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Townsend 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% 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% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Stratham and North Hampton 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.