Compare towns
East Kingston vs Exeter 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
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | East Kingston | Exeter | Lee | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,311Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,576 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| East Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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+ | 27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604 44% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | East Kingston School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 9 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.