The Town FilesStrafford, New Hampshire
Town in Strafford County · population 4,230 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $427,900
- Household income
- $122,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 46.3
Strafford is a town of 4,230 people in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $427,900, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of New Hampshire towns, better for families than 85% of New Hampshire towns, more upscale than 84% of New Hampshire towns.
How Strafford ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Strafford is worth $427,900, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $122,105, which is more affordable than 65% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,635 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Strafford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $427,900 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,635 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $122,105 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.1% | — |
Who lives in Strafford
| People | Strafford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 35.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 92.5% |
Weather in Strafford
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.3 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Strafford since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 4.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2008.
Severe weather in Strafford County since 1996
Strafford County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4371: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Strafford County
Strafford County had 46,517 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Strafford itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Strafford
1 public school with 394 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strafford School | PK-8 | 394 | 11.3 |
Towns near Strafford
- Northwood, NH5.1 mi · 4,641 people · home $363,000
- Barnstead, NH6.7 mi · 4,915 people · home $362,400
- Pittsfield, NH7.1 mi · 4,075 people · home $294,800
- Barrington, NH7.8 mi · 9,326 people · home $399,100
- Farmington, NH8.3 mi · 6,722 people · home $289,200
- Rochester, NH9.8 mi · 32,492 people · home $279,100
- Farmington, NH9.9 mi · 3,824 people · home $229,600
- Epsom, NH10.2 mi · 4,834 people · home $338,400
Strafford questions
Is Strafford, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Strafford scores better for retirees than 63% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 58%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Strafford?
The median owner-occupied home in Strafford is valued at $427,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $122,105, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,635 a month.
What is the weather like in Strafford?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 52.3 inches of snow.
Does Strafford get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Strafford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)