Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs North Hampton 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lee | North Hampton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,576 |
4,543Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 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+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.