Compare towns
Brookline vs Newfields vs Stratham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the most renters (7.4% rent).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
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 | Brookline | Newfields | Stratham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,023Lowest |
7,754Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,875±$323Lowest 26% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
NH 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.