Compare towns
Stratham vs Windham vs Hampton vs Exeter
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 most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Windham | Hampton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
16,038 |
10,101 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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 |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham 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 |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% 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 |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.