Compare towns
Weare vs Berwick vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Berwick has the most renters (27% rent).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Weare | Berwick | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
1,998Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Highest 101% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Strafford 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.