Compare towns
Stratham vs Wayne vs Newfields 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).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.
| Measure | Stratham | Wayne | Newfields | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,023 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Newfields 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 38 | Newfields School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.