Stratford

Coos Countyβ€’North Countryβ€’Population: 662

Overview

Stratford is a North Country town in Coos County along the Connecticut River, near Colebrook and the Vermont border. The town's forested hills and river valley setting give it a remote, rural character.

The Connecticut River offers fishing and paddling, while Stratford's proximity to Colebrook provides access to regional services. The town's small population keeps development minimal.

Housing in Stratford remains among the most affordable in the state, reflecting the North Country's remote location and lower cost of living.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’River access
  • β€’Very affordable
  • β€’Rural character
  • β€’Regional access

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Very remote
  • β€’Limited jobs
  • β€’Harsh winters

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Stratford.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$27.92
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$12.76
Equalization ratio: 46%
Municipal
$6.44
Local School
$14.73
State Education
$2.13
County
$4.62

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$27.92$12.76$6.44$14.73$2.13$4.62

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$6,980$582
$350,000$9,772$814
$500,000$13,960$1,163
$750,000$20,940$1,745
$1,000,000$27,920$2,327

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $27.92 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
75Β°F
Winter Avg High
29.8Β°F
Annual Snowfall
82.5 in
Annual Rainfall
47.1 in
Sunny Days/Year
236
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
184 mi
~227 min drive
Manchester
134 mi
~169 min drive
Portsmouth
176 mi
~219 min drive
Concord
117 mi
~149 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
54/100
Trail Miles
133.8
0
Boat Launches
2
State Parks
1
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:66 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$47,861
Per Capita Income
$23,377
Median Family Income
$49,046

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$154,700
Median Rent
$555/mo
Homeownership Rate
82.9%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
13.77%
In Labor Force
363

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
5.85%
Total with Degree
38

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
53.3 years
Avg Household Size
2.53 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Stratford with Other Towns

See how Stratford stacks up against other NH communities.