Compare towns
Brookline vs Stratham vs White River Junction vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Stratham | White River Junction | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,754Highest |
3,364Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Stratham 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 | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.