Compare towns
Stratham vs Windham vs Wells vs Newfields
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1986).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($485k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Wells | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
16,038Highest |
11,713 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Wells 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 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| 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 78% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.