Compare towns
Sullivan vs Stratham vs Exeter vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Sullivan | Stratham | Exeter | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
7,754 |
16,151Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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 | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.