Compare towns
Stratham vs Windham vs Hampstead vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Windham | Hampstead | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
16,038Highest |
9,102 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Hampstead 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 53% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 15% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Hampstead School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.