Compare towns

Sutton vs Stratham vs Waterville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% 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.

MeasureSuttonStrathamWaterville
People
Population
790
7,754Highest
680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±5.7
20% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$231,100±$41kLowest
31% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,975
27% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±31.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
11.6%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #43 of 120 in NH —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.