Compare towns
Stratham vs Waitsfield vs Calais
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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
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 | Waitsfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
1,918 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Calais 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% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Calais 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.