Compare towns
Stratham vs White River Junction vs Portsmouth
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 homeowners (92.6%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | White River Junction | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
3,364Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.