Compare towns
Stratham vs Westford 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 expensive homes ($655k median).
Westford has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Westford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
2,290Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Exeter 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. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1k 68% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest 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% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.