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Strafford, NH


strafford New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Town of Strafford
Lynn M. Sweet, Chair, Board of Selectmen
12 Mountain View Drive
Strafford, NH 03884
Telephone (603) 664-2192
Fax (603) 664-7276
E-mail administrator@strafford.nh.gov
Web Site www.strafford.nh.gov

Municipal Office Hours Town Clerk: Monday and Wednesday, 8:30-2, Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30-7; Tax Collector: Monday and Wednesday, 8:30-2, Tuesday, 1-6

County Strafford
Labor Market Area Dover-Durham, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 1
Executive Council District District 4
State Senate District District 6
State Representative Strafford County Districts 4, 18

Incorporated: 1820
Origin: This territory was for a long time part of Barrington, and settled prior to the Revolution. It was incorporated as a separate town in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Earl of Strafford was a title of the Wentworth family in England. Strafford, Vermont is also named for the family. The name was also adopted by a state militia company in Dover, the Strafford Guards, who later became part of the New Hampshire National Guard. The company served as escort for the Marquis de Lafayette on his visit to America, and saw service in the Civil War.
Villages and Place Names: Berrys Corner, Bow Lake Village, Center Strafford, Hills Corner, Leighton Corners, Strafford Corner, Welshs Corner
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 2,144 residents in 1820
Population Trends: Population change for Strafford totaled 3,270 over 50 years, from 965 in 1970 to 4,235 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Strafford was 4,329 residents, which ranked 91st among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 88.4 persons per square mile of land area. Strafford contains 49.0 square miles of land area and 2.2 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2023 $4,406,695
Budget: School Appropriations, 2023-2024 $12,484,487
Zoning Ordinance 1970/22
Master Plan 2023
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Library; Planning; Zoning Board of Adjustment
Appointed:Conservation
Public Library Hill

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full and Part-time
Emergency Medical Service Full and Part-time
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Frisbie Memorial, Rochester 10 miles 27

Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource Energy
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Private wells
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications; TDS
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessLimited
ResidentialLimited

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $17.13
2022 Equalization Ratio 69.4
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $11.86
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings95.6%
Commercial Land and Buildings1.5%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other3.0%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 1,828
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 1,662
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 56
Five or More Units in Structure 0
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 110
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 4,329 132,275
2020 4,230 130,889
2010 3,991 123,143
2000 3,649 112,676
1990 2,936 104,348
1980 1,663 85,324
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   1,956 Female:   2,275
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 171
Age 5 to 19 781
Age 20 to 34 613
Age 35 to 54 1,056
Age 55 to 64 757
Age 65 and over 853
Median Age 49.3 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 3,136
High school graduate or higher 89.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher 38.3%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $40,913
Median family income $127,125
Median household income $120,453
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $63,750
Female $66,875
Individuals below the poverty level 7.5%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 2,155 2,275
Employed 2,045 2,227
Unemployed 110 48
Unemployment Rate 5.1% 2.1%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 114 132
Average Weekly Wage $781 $1,172
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 90 138
Average Weekly Wage $849 $921
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 204 269
Average Weekly Wage $811 $1,044
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 157 155
Average Weekly Wage $580 $692
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 361 424
Average Weekly Wage $711 $915

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Strafford operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Coe-Brown Academy (Northwood) SAU 44
Career Technology Center(s): Dover Career Technical Center; R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Ctr.; Somersworth Career Technical Center
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1
Grade Levels P K 1-8 9-12
Total Enrollment 403
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 2 Total Capacity: 107
Nearest Community/Technical College: NHTI-Concord
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
David R. Whitcher, Builder Building contractor 25 1971
Strafford Machine & Welding Job machine shop 2 1974
Amusement Media, Inc. Media & marketing 32 1997
Isinglass Country Store Convenience store 3 1985
Strafford Insulating Technologies Insulation 1 1985
Parker Mountian Machine Machine Shop 8 2020
Independence Inn Restaurant & Inn 5 2022
7 C's Kitchen and Market Market & take-out food 7 2023

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 126, 202A
Nearest Interstate, Exit Spaulding Tpk., Exit 16; I-95, Exit 5
Distance 9 miles; 29 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Skyhaven, RochesterRunway4,200 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 47 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 32 miles
Portland, ME 62 miles
Boston, MA 79 miles
New York City, NY 270 miles
Montreal, Quebec 264 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 2,220
Drove alone, car/truck/van 74.6%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 7.2%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 3.0%
Other Means 1.2%
Worked at home 14.1%
Mean Travel Time to Work 34.6 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 22.7%
Commuting to another NH community 72.3%
Commuting out-of-state 5.0%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
Bicycle Trails
Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Bow Lake

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 7/8/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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