Compare towns
Alfred vs Stratham vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Alfred | Stratham | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
7,754Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38kLowest about the U.S. average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,063±$522 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 14% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Lyman 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.