Compare towns

Stratham vs Union 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureStrathamUnionBrookline
People
Population
7,754Highest
2,663Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Highest
7% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Union 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%
21.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Union 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%
34.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Stratham 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.
$80,724±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
Brookline and Stratham 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.
$267,600±$42kLowest
20% below U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,179±$452Lowest
17% below U.S.
$2,500±$1k
77% above U.S.
Stratham and Brookline 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.
$3,276Lowest
5% 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%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Union 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%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Lowest
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 — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District RSU 40/MSAD 40 Brookline School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.