Compare towns
Wells vs Stratham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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.
| Measure | Wells | Stratham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
7,754Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.