Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Dorset vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Waitsfield | Dorset | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.