Compare towns
Candia vs Lee vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Candia | Lee | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,576 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #41 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet |
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.