Compare towns

Stratham vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).

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.

MeasureStrathamWillistonExeter
People
Population
7,754Lowest
10,144
16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Exeter and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Williston 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%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Williston 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%
54.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Williston 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.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,832±$130Lowest
30% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Williston 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 70 in VT #22 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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.