Compare towns

Stratham vs Webster vs Exeter vs North Hampton

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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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.

MeasureStrathamWebsterExeterNorth Hampton
People
Population
7,754
17,748Highest
16,151
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Highest
30% 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%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Webster 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%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.9Highest
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%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Webster 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.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$146,458±$29k
81% 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.
$361,500±$12kLowest
9% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$670,400±$61kHighest
102% 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.
$1,228±$81Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,805±$106
28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$8,529
173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9Highest
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 #271 of 282 in MA #22 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Webster Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District North Hampton School District
High school in town None in town Bartlett High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Lowest
12.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet 59 photos → 10 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.